IN BRIEF

Published: July 4, 2012 (Issue # 1716)

Online Border Booking

ST. PETERSBURG (SPT) — People traveling from Russia to Estonia will now be able to make a preliminary booking online to cross the border, Interfax reported.

Russia will launch the GoSwift electronic system in July with the aim of reducing the time spent waiting in line by travelers.

Bookings can be made for Russia’s border points with Estonia such as Shumilkino-Lukhamaa, Kunichnaya Gora–Koidula and Ivangorod-Narva.

The GoSwift system has been used to allow travelers to book a time to cross the border from Estonia into Russia since August 2011.

The system makes it possible to book a time to cross the border. Travelers will still be able to cross the border without having made an online booking, in the same way that they do now — on a first come, first served basis, Interfax reported.

Estonia’s Interior Affairs Ministry said Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Finland have also expressed interest in using a similar system.