EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Since January 1, 2024, two bus flights between Vitebsk and Smolensk have been canceled due to the expiration of the international license for passenger transportation issued to the Belarusian carrier JSC "Vitebskoblavtotrans".
In accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation, in order to carry out international passenger transportation, the carrier must obtain the appropriate license from the Ministry of Transport of Russia. JSC "Vitebskoblavtotrans" sent an application for license renewal to the Ministry of Transport of Russia in advance, as early as in December 2023.
State Secretary of the Union State Dmitry Mezentsev had to intervene in the situation. As a result of prompt work of the Russian Ministry of Transport, the necessary documents were executed and sent to JSC "Vitebskoblavtotrans.
Belarusian buses are expected to resume flights between Vitebsk and Smolensk in the third decade of January 2024, tentatively on January 23.
The decision to extend the license for international passenger transportation on the Smolensk-Vitebsk route is important for the development of cross-border and interregional cooperation in the formats of the Union State.