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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

Border Control Changes to be Introduced September 1

13 November, 2012 - 00:00

Border Guard Chief of Staff Pavlo Shysholin said at a briefing on August 6 that a new regulation on controlled border areas will come into force on September 1, 1998. This regulation will lift all restrictions on entering and staying in Ukrainian border areas for all Ukrainian citizens. At the same time it will introduce a more strict control of border areas.

According to the regulation, to enter and move within the controlled border region it is enough for Ukrainian citizens to have any identification document on hand such as a driver's license, work identification card, etc. Citizens who staying in such regions must produce this document at first request by border guards, militia officers, or members of voluntary groups assisting border guards. Foreigners and stateless persons must also have on hand the documents confirming the need for their being in the given border region. Moreover, in such regions border guards, militiamen, and voluntary group members are authorized, if necessary, to stop and examine vehicles of any form of ownership. Under the regulation, hunting is prohibited in border areas and all types of boats in coastal areas are to be registered with border guard units.

According to Mr. Shysholin, such changes were prompted by the necessity to fight illegal migration, contraband, and other illegal border crossing. He said that in the first half of 1998 Ukrainian border-guards confiscated UAH 7.5 million worth of contraband goods, the figure being 24% higher than in the analogous period last year. In addition, in January-June of this year, 10,878 were detained at Ukrainian frontiers, of whom 4,859 persons were from Southeast Asia, the Middle and Far East, and Africa. They tried to illegally enter Western European states via Ukrainian territory.

 

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