Local border movement between Russia and Poland has been stopped

According to the Interfax news agency, Russia suspended the operation of the order of local border movement with Poland in reaction to similar actions of Warsaw.

“From this Monday the entry into the country is prohibited to Polish citizens travelling on local border traffic permits (LBAT cards). This means that the operation of a visa-free Russian-Polish border crossing regime is temporarily suspended. Russia took this decision in reaction to similar actions of Poland which stopped the local border area traffic on July 4”, – announced the press service with reference to the Border Service of the FSB of the Russian Federation in the Kaliningrad region.

Starting from July, 4 Poland has temporarily suspended the local border area traffic with Russia because of the Warsaw NATO summit and the World Youth Days scheduled to take place on July 2016 during which the Pope Francis is expected to pay a visit to Poland. In response to these actions of Poland, Russia has also imposed restrictions for Polish citizens entering the country. According to the post appeared on the Facebook page of the Minister-Head of Agency for International Relations of the Government of the Kaliningrad region Alla Ivanova, “Poles will not be able to enter the country until the initial suspension from Poland is lifted”.

It is worth recalling that an Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of the Russian Federation on the order of local border movement signed in Moscow on December 14, 2011 has entered into force in 27.07.2012. Under this agreement, residents of the border area of one country can enter another country on a valid passport and local border traffic permit issued by the state consular departments in a simplified procedure.

The LBAT zone includes the territory of the Kaliningrad region of Russia and some border administrative units of Poland.