Russia is closing the border /Russia/Belussia station at Krasnaya Gorka for transit for tourists from 3rd countries, which really mean EU-citizens as they are the only ones using the borger station.

Hans Henrik Kjoelby, CEO of Via Hansa:

“We have been informed that the Russian authorities plan to cease to allow transit for non-Russian and non-Belorussian citizens at the Belorussian/Russian border station, Krasnaya Gorka, on the way from Minsk to Smolensk.

The Russians authorities are claiming that this border station is not listed in the list of their international check points, which is technically correct, although the border station has been the main border station for transit between the two countries for 3rd country citizens as long as anybody can remember.

As un-understandable it is that the Russian authorities will not allow the transit of 3rd country citizens at Krasnaya Gorka, it is their right to do so. There is obviously a lot of disappointments on both sides of the border against this move but as the matter stands now.”

The only reasonable alternative for 3rd country car and coach passengers is to travel from Warsaw via Vilnius and Velikije Luki to Moscow, a distance of 1.430  km, 150 km longer than the traditional route: Warsaw-Minsk-Smolensk-Moscow