Belarus border open for 4000 berry-pickers from Ukraine

Approximately 4000 Ukraine nationals have expressed wish to use the border posts at Paleski forestry at the border between Belarus and Ukraine, State Border Committee of Belarus told BELTA news agency.

There will be three border posts, open from July 1 through August 10 - the season for blackberry and blueberry pickers. The posts will be reopened agains from August 30 through November 15, this time for cranberry pickers. Only residents of ten near-border villages in Ukraine will be allowed to cross into Belarus. Belarusian border guards are epxected to monitor berry-gathering by Ukrainians to prevent them from using so called "combine harvesters" that damages the plants. Violators will be fined and banned from entering Belarus to pick berries once again.