Belarus granted Russia access to its navigable rivers

The Russian Federation received free access to the navigable rivers of Belarus, in accordance with the agreement of the countries on inland navigation.

The Belarusian-Russian agreement on inland shipping was ratified on June 27 by the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Oleksandr Lukashenko, rosZMI reports.

Earlier, the decree was adopted by both chambers of the Belarusian parliament.

The agreement provides for granting the vessels of the parties to the agreement the right to perform:

• transportation between ports on internal waterways of Belarus and Russia;

• cabotage transportation;

• transit transportation from Belarusian and Russian ports to ports of third countries.

Source: Belarusian river shipping.

Conditions for the admission of vessels to navigation on national inland waterways are also defined. Mutual recognition of ship documents and documents of ship crew members is foreseen, as well as exchange between authorized bodies of information on qualification documents of crew members of ships sailing on inland waterways.

The document also establishes a ban on industrial, hydrographic, research and other activities not related to shipping on inland waterways.

In addition, the aggressor countries will create a mixed commission to ensure the implementation of the agreement and conduct consultations on the main issues of relations in the field of inland water transport.

Earlier, the parliament of Belarus stated that the ratification of the agreement “will contribute to the deepening of the integration of the economies of both countries, as well as the creation of new logistics schemes for the delivery of Belarusian goods.”

However, it is possible that this agreement is Russia’s next step towards subordination to Belarus. According to TTS, this is already happening in the railway transport sector.

The Community of Railway Workers of Belarus notes that with the beginning of a full-scale war, “Belarusian Railways” are becoming more and more dependent on the decisions of “Russian Railways” (RZD). The Russian monopoly in this area regulates the management decisions of the Belarusian company. Russian Railways also handles not only profitable cargo, but also some passenger transportation.

In addition, it is noted that Russian Railways uses its representative office in Belarus as a residency (a foreign institution of a foreign intelligence agency).