Local border traffic between Poland and Russia to remain suspended
PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk
15.09.2016 07:40
Visa-free travel for residents living close to the border between Poland and Russia's Kaliningrad exclave will not be restored for now.
Polish Border Guard at Polish-Russian border. Photo: Lukasz Katlewa via Wikimedia Commons
Deputy Interior Minister Sebastian Chwałek said that suspending such so-called local border traffic limited the “possibility of unwanted persons coming to Poland” and that this is a threat that is intensifying.
He also said that Poles tend to spend more in Kaliningrad than Russians in Poland.
“There is no reason to say that limiting local border traffic significantly influences [Poles’] income. Perhaps the flow of products which are not subject to excise tax [bought by Poles in Russia] will be limited as a result, which would benefit Polish bulk sellers and producers,” Chwałek said.
Poland suspended visa-free local border traffic agreements with both Ukraine and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad on 4 July due to concerns about security ahead of World Youth Day and the NATO summit in Warsaw.
Temporary checks were introduced at all crossings. The local border traffic agreement with Ukraine has since been restored, but that with Russia remains suspended. (tf/pk)