Russia will introduce strict control on the border with Belarus and Kazakhstan

The Russian Federation plans to introduce strict and permanent customs control at the borders with Belarus and Kazakhstan. This decision is aimed at protecting the country's domestic market from unfair imports, including goods from the states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). This is reported by The Moscow Times ❶ ❷ (an organization whose activities are recognized as undesirable).

According to Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian government Alexei Overchuk, simultaneously with the removal of restrictions on foreign markets, the Russian authorities are trying to prevent unfair competition from imports in the domestic market.

"And here we are working in accordance with the decision to whitewash the economy. First of all, this is due to the fact that we have an open customs border with our partners in the EAEU, and goods that create unfair competition to our domestic market enter our market. And here we are determined to take very tough measures in order to stop this unfair practice," he said.

The Deputy Prime Minister added that the work on removing barriers to trade with partner countries should be accompanied by increased control over goods entering the Russian market.

He added that in September 2025, the Federal Customs Service of Russia will be instructed to strengthen the control of mobile groups on the borders with Belarus and Kazakhstan. According to him, this will be done in order to combat the illegal import and export of goods, as well as for careful monitoring of their transit.

"We will continue this control constantly. Someone tried to stand on the border from the Kazakh side, to wait for the attention to be reduced. There won't be. This is our clear position, and we will adhere to it," Overchuk said on this occasion.

He stressed that the inspections are carried out in close cooperation with the territorial divisions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Rosgvardiya, the Border Service of the FSB, Rosselkhoznadzor, Rospotrebnadzor and Rostransnadzor.

"In order to protect the domestic market from counterfeiting, at the end of 2025, the State Control and Rosaccreditation authorities received the authority to suspend the certificates and declarations issued in the EAEU countries, and the relevant work has already begun," Overchuk concluded.

❶ Organization performing the functions of a foreign agent

❷ An organization whose activities are deemed undesirable on the territory of the Russian Federation