Proposal of taxing Belarusans going abroad is now being considered by government agencies

Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Minister of Sport and Tourism and Deputy Head of the State Customs Committee comment upon Lukashenka’s initiative to introduce a 100 dollar fee for going abroad.

Cheslau Shulha, Deputy Minister of Sport and Tourism, has commented on Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s initiative at a press conference in Minsk, saying that “it may help reduce queues at the border. We welcome any measures aimed at it. If shop tourists are gone, there will be an influx of tourists from Western Europe.”

The exit fee for Belarusians going abroad may be introduced in October, Deputy Prime Minister Piotr Prakapovich told Euroradio on September 11. The proposal is being considered by relevant government agencies. “There are many nuances. We do not want the issue to affect the law-abiding citizens. The customs will be involved. If a person leaves the country 50 times a year and brings back 50 refrigerators, it is clear that he does not do it for himself”, mentioned Mr. Prakapovich.

Siarhei Barysiuk, Deputy Head of the Belarusian Customs Committee, claims ready to pay $100 to leave Belarus. However, he travels inside the Customs Union more than to the EU. "If the corresponding decision is taken, we will follow it," Mr.Barysiuk comments upon the question on the $100 fee to travel abroad. “Customs officers perform control functions representing the interests of their countries. If a Belarusian directive body makes a corresponding decision customs services will fulfil it within their competence,” he said.

Deputy Head of the State Customs Committee has noted that there is no statistics with regard to the Belarusians traveling to the EU. Therefore, it is complicated to evaluate the income of the new exit fee introduction. Everyone who travels abroad buys something there. However, the details of who will be obliged to pay the $100 fee are still unknown.