Opinions & Interviews

Hope for flexibility in Russia’s entry restrictions for Belarusians

Mikhail Myasnikovich. An archive photo

MOSCOW, 16 March (BelTA) – Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich expects Russia to be flexible in its restrictions on the entry of Belarusian citizens due to the coronavirus situation. Mikhail Myasnikovich made the relevant statement after a session of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission held on 16 March as a video conference, BelTA has learned.

Mikhail Myasnikovich said: “Certainly, it will be a flexible approach as far as I am aware. It is impossible to fully sever all ties: aircraft are flying, the number of flights may be reduced. Citizens coming back to their own country will surely be allowed to do so. As for leaving citizens, there is no doubt there will be restrictions but these restrictions are made by the country they are about to enter, not the country they are leaving.”

The official also noted that the coronavirus situation had already affected Belarusian-Russian trade and economic relations. “It is already having an effect on freight transportation, on the movement of commodity flows,” he stressed. “There are also issues with the monetary policy on top of everything else.”

“These issues lie outside the purview of the Eurasian Economic Commission. It is up to the national government agencies to address them,” Mikhail Myasnikovich added.

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