Visa-Free Entry to Russia for Guests and Participants of the “Slavianski Bazaar”

Legal Grounds for Entry with a Ticket

As of January 11, 2025, the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Belarus on mutual visa recognition has come into force, opening new opportunities for foreign nationals. According to Article 2 of this agreement, foreign nationals and stateless persons who have a document for attending an international event and a valid identity document are granted the right to enter, exit, stay, and transit through the territory of the other state party during the validity period of these documents.

Practical Application for the “Slavianski Bazaar” Festival

Visa-Free Entry to Belarus

For guests and participants of the 34th International Arts Festival “Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk” from 71 countries, a visa-free regime is established for entry to Belarus from July 4 to July 20, 2025. The main events of the festival will take place from July 10 to 13.

Using the Event Ticket as a Document for Entry into Russia

The ticket to the international event is recognized as a valid document for attending the event, as stated in Article 2 of the Agreement.
The ticket allows a foreign national to enter the Russian Federation without additional formalities during its validity period and to travel from Russia to Belarus to attend the Festival.

Border Crossing Procedures

Checkpoints

Foreign nationals holding tickets to international events may cross the Russia-Belarus border at the following checkpoints:

Checkpoint Type	Location
Railway	International railway stations
Air	International airports
Road	Yukhovichi–Doloscy (Vitebsk – Pskov region)
	Ezerishche–Nevel (Vitebsk – Pskov region)
	Liozno–Kruglovka (Vitebsk – Smolensk region)
	Redki–Krasnaya Gorka (Mogilev – Smolensk region)
	Zvenchatka–Dubovichka (Mogilev – Smolensk region)
	Selishche–Novozybkov (Gomel – Bryansk region)

Responsibilities and Restrictions

Migration Registration

Foreign nationals entering with event tickets must register for migration within the timeframe and procedure established by the laws of the host state. The period of stay is counted from the date of entry into one of the states from the territory of a third country.

Right to Refuse Entry

Each party reserves the right to deny entry or shorten the period of stay for foreign nationals in the interests of state security or public order.

Impact on Tourism Development

The agreement on mutual visa recognition greatly simplifies travel for tourists and fosters increased tourism and business flows between Russia and Belarus. Tour operators note that mutual visa recognition will help increase the influx of foreign tourists to both countries and enable the organization of combined tours.

Conclusion

The agreement on mutual visa recognition between Russia and Belarus guarantees the right to enter Russia with tickets to international events held in Belarus. This revolutionary change in migration law opens up new horizons for international tourism and cultural exchange, making travel between the two countries more accessible and convenient for foreign nationals.

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