Starovoit reported growth of tourist flow from Russia to Belarus

Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit during a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Aleksei Liakhnovich on December 13 stated about the growth of tourist flow of Russians to the neighboring country.

Starovoit pointed to the resumption of communication from Smolensk and Pskov regions to Vitebsk region.

He noted that on November 1, 2024 an additional train "Lastochka" on the route Moscow - Minsk will be launched.

"Samara, Ulyanovsk, Chelyabinsk, Makhachkala with Minsk, Moscow with Brest, with St. Petersburg, with Gomel were connected by air," Starovoit said.

According to the minister, this epitomizes the strengthening of not only economic, but also human ties between the countries.

"We all see very well that residents and citizens of the Russian Federation with pleasure go to Belarus, spend their weekends and vacations. And all the residents of the republic are happy to meet traditionally guests, <...> all conditions in terms of security are provided, that's why such an increasing flow of Russian citizens to fraternal Belarus we observe," Starovoit emphasized.

Earlier, December 6, Russia and Belarus approved a resolution on comfortable communication tariffs in the Union State. The document provides for the abolition of roaming between the countries from March 1, 2025.

At the same time, Presidents of Russia and Belarus Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko signed an agreement on security guarantees between the countries. As specified by the Russian leader, the document defines mutual allied obligations to ensure defense, protection of sovereignty, independence and constitutional order of Russia and Belarus, as well as inviolability of the territory of the external border of the Union State.

In addition, Putin noted that cooperation between Russia and Belarus is based on the principle of friendship and mutual consideration of interests, and said that cooperation in industry is developing with a focus on import substitution. Lukashenko said during the meeting that signing a union treaty with Russia was the right decision. According to him, Moscow and Minsk can realize their potential only in cooperation.

Prior to that, November 18, Lukashenko said that it was necessary to ensure free movement for citizens of both countries on the border of Belarus and Russia.