MINSK, 21 March (BelTA) – The Belarusian border service has stepped up security measures near the border checkpoint Aleksandrovka at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border after a Jeep car with passengers on board tried to break through the border on 20 March, BelTA learned from Anton Bychkovsky, a spokesman for the State Border Committee of Belarus.
Two of the trespassers have been apprehended. According to the available information, another unknown person may have been in the car. He or she is on the wanted list now. “Search and retrieval measures are in progress in the responsibility area of the Mozyr division of the Belarusian border service. Security measures have been beefed up at border checkpoints and along the border. Border service personnel are keeping an eye on who enters, stays, and leaves the border area,” said Anton Bychkovsky.
Vehicles are being searched, measures to verify the authenticity of documents have been stepped up. Additional measures can be taken as part of border crossing procedures on the main directions of the Belarusian border.
The operation to find and apprehend the third trespasser continues. All the possible movement routes are being looked into. The Belarusian and Ukrainian border services are working together on it.
BelTA reported earlier that a Jeep car reached the Belarusian-Ukrainian border at 01:45 on 20 March from Ukraine's side. At the border checkpoint Aleksandrovka the car rammed through the gate arm and suffered mechanical damage by driving through the vehicle stopping device. Belarusian border service officers at the border checkpoint used firearms to stop the car.
The Investigation Committee of Belarus has initiated legal proceedings in accordance with Part 2, Article 333, Footnote 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (illegal transportation of weapons, ammunition by a group of persons acting in collusion). A TT pistol and two loaded magazines were found inside the car as well as items that looked like TNT and electric detonators.
