Russia and Belarus reinstate border checks after 28 years.

Belarus has partially restored controls on its border with Russia for the first time in 28 years, citing the need to avoid the entry of third-country nationals into Belarus. However, human rights activists believe the border checks will target Russian men trying to avoid mobilization into the Russian army. Russia and Belarus have an alliance agreement under which the Kremlin subsidizes the Belarusian economy, via loans and discounted Russian oil and gas. Thousands of Russians have fled to Belarus to escape mobilization and persecution in Russia after the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022.