BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

18/12/2007

Belarusian President Simplifies Travel Abroad

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka on December 17 signed a presidential decree, effective January 1, 2008, abolishing a requirement for Belarusian nationals to obtain a travel-permit stamp in their passports before leaving the country, Belapan reported. Belarusians currently have to pay around $16 for a one-year travel permit. The decree also establishes regulations for the creation of a single database of people who are barred from leaving Belarus. RFE/RL's Belarusian Service quoted Interior Minister Syarhey Martynau as saying that the database will include nearly 100,000 people who are "aware of state secrets," face criminal prosecution, have outstanding financial commitments, or fall into several other categories. AM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/12/3-cee/cee-181207.asp