Non-residents of Belarus to Pay Customs Fines in Belarusian Rubles

As is reported by the press service of the State Customs Committee (SCC) of Belarus, starting from March 1st, 2009 Belarusian SCC can accept only Belarusian rubles in payment of fines for administrative customs infractions.

As is reported by the press service of the State Customs Committee (SCC) of Belarus, starting from March 1^st, 2009 Belarusian SCC can accept only Belarusian rubles in payment of fines for administrative customs infractions.

This has to do with the fact that the licences issued by the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus to accept cash foreign currency in payment of fines for administrative customs infractions committed by non-residence of Belarus expired on March 1^st, 2009. Therefore, Belarusian customs are not able to receive cash foreign currency from legal and natural persons – non-residents of Belarus.

As noted by the representatives of the National Bank, this decisions aims to increase the volume of payments in Belarusian rubles by extending the sphere of their usage as well as to increase the attractiveness of Belarusian rubles as an instrument of payment.

At the same time, as before custom authorities can accept foreign currency in payment of customs fees. Moreover, under the legislation in force, they are able to confiscate (seize) the currency which is the subject of an administrative infraction or to seize it in order to ensure the payment of a fine for an administrative customs infraction.