All travel restrictions to be lifted in Russia-Belarus Union State on March 18 - Mishustin

MOSCOW. March 17 (Interfax) - All travel restrictions will be lifted in the Russia-Belarus Union State starting at midnight, March 18, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said.

"Starting at midnight on March 18 (Moscow time), all travel restrictions will be lifted for citizens in the Russia-Belarus Union State. We discussed that with [Belarusian] Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko at the beginning of the week and coordinated the decision with the president," Mishustin said at a government meeting on Thursday.

The freedom of movement is important for trade, economic cooperation, and humanitarian contacts between Russia and Belarus, Mishustin said.

"This is particularly important amid the enhanced restrictions from unfriendly countries. I have no doubt that stronger integration in the Union State will be the best response to the pressure of sanctions on Russia and Belarus," he said.

In turn, Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko said earlier that Russia was promising to scrap all Covid-19 related restrictions on the border with Belarus as soon as possible.

The Russian government restricted traffic by all means of transportation across the border, including the land border with Belarus, in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.