Border checks between Russia and Belarus are back for the first time in 28 years

Belarus, one of Russia's closest allies, has partially restored controls on its border with its neighbor, Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik said Wednesday.

This is first time in 28 years that re have been checks at 1,239-kilometer (770-mile) border.

According to Aleinik, introduction of border controls aimed to avoid entry of third-country nationals into Belarus, ahe of implementation of an intergovernmental agreement on mutual recognition of visas.

However, human rights activists think border checks will target Russian men trying to avoid mobilization into Russian army.

Aleinik said that checks on people crossing Belarusian-Russian border are carried out by Belarusian border guards in close cooperation with ir Russian counterparts. “It’s not really control, it’s more like monitoring situation on border,” Aleinik told reporters in Moscow.

In 1995, all border controls between Russia and Belarus were removed. Russia and Belarus have an alliance agreement under which Kremlin subsidizes Belarusian economy, via loans and discounted Russian oil and gas. Russia has previously used Belarus, an economically dependent ally, as a springboard to send troops and missiles into war in Ukraine.

Checks by Belarusian border service began May 5, but Belarusian authorities did not comment on this development until Wednesday.

Also Wednesday, Russian Minister for Digital Development Maksut Shayev said that a unified database of persons eligible for military service should be in place in time for autumn draft, along with introduction of electronic summonses.

Under Russia's new rules, signed into law last month, anyone served an electronic summons is banned from leaving country before appearing at an enlistment office.

Thousands of Russians have fled to Belarus to escape mobilization and persecution in Russia after start of war in Ukraine in February 2022. In one such case, after he was sentenced to two years in prison after his daughter drew an “anti-war” picture in school, Alexei Moskalyov fled from Russia to Belarus. He was detained in Minsk in March and later extrited to Russia.

“(Belarusian President Alexander) Lukashenko responds to any threats, including sabotage, with increased control, which is also beneficial for Russia, which seeks to limit ability to leave country for those who try to avoid mobilization and participation in war with Ukraine,” said Pavel Sapelko of Belarusian human rights center Viasna.