Ukraine can not close the border with Russia – Transcarpathian expert

Ukraine can not close the border with Russia in order to prevent threats, neither legally, nor technically. This opinion was expressed during the meeting of Uzhgorod Press Club by Vasyl Lemak, Doctor of Law, Professor, the head of the theory of state and law department, corresponding member of NALS.

"Unfortunately, the border with Russia can not be closed. In legal terms, each country defines the border regime and the regime of the area adjacent to the border. To actually close the border, we need to introduce legal regimes, everything else is difficult in legal terms. Any state may deny a person access to its territory for reasons of national security, but we do not see it happening, – Vasyl Lemak said. – There are signs at the border, but they are not backed up with anthing else."

According to the expert, the border between Ukraine and Russia is huge in length and it is very difficult to provide it with engineering resources, there is no border infrastructure. "Ukraine has no control over the state border with Russia. In particular, it is difficult to introduce any restrictions for residents of Crimea, who are now obtaining Russian citizenship. Plus the borders with Belarus, where every citizen of Russia can move freely, – Vasyl Lemak said. – As for channels along the border, they have rather ornamental value. Border demarcation is not completed in the full sense of the word. Another question is why it has not been done for more than 20 years of independence. They explain that no one expected from Russia to act like that."