KYIV. July 11 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) presided by President Petro Poroshenko met on Monday to consider the issue of tightening control of the Ukrainian state border crossing and specifically, of introducing a procedure for collecting biometrics of foreign visitors.
“This is about tightening controls over the entry to, exit from and stay in Ukrainian territory of citizens of other countries: we are introducing biometrics control procedures for all individuals crossing the Ukrainian border,” the Ukrainian presidential press service quoted Poroshenko as saying late on Monday.
“We must collect biometrics, including fingerprints and a digital photograph. This will considerably boost opportunities in terms of the fight against terrorism,” Poroshenko said, expressing confidence that the proposed draft decisions will be absolutely understood and supported by society.
Poroshenko noted that his order to draft relevant documents has by now been fulfilled. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine will report on this subject, Poroshenko said.
“We will give sufficient amount of time for the country to get prepared in terms of quality, so that upstanding citizens feel no inconvenience,” he said.
Poroshenko also instructed Interior Minister Arsen Avakov to personally take control of the order’s implementation so as to provide border guards at all main border-crossing points with equipment as necessary to record biometric data.
