Although Border Guards Day is mainly celebrated in
Russia, a number of former republics in the former
USSR, have preserved and continue to celebrate this holiday on May 28. A number of other countries still celebrate the holiday on different dates.
Abkhazia Abkhazia has recognized 28 May as Border Guards Day since its independence in 1991 and celebrates the holiday similarly to
Russia.
Armenia Armenia has recognized 26 April as
Border Guards Day since 2007.
Azerbaijan In
Azerbaijan, the Day of the Border Guard is celebrated on August 18, in order to honor the parliamentary decree signed on August 18, 1919, which outlined the borders of
Azerbaijan and its protection. In 2000,
Heydar Aliyev announced that August 18 was set to be the new holiday of the
State Border Service.
Baltics The
Baltic republics of
Estonia,
Latvia,
Lithuania do not recognize May 28 as a holiday due to the
Soviet occupation of the Baltic states. The Baltic border agencies of the three countries celebrate their own professional holidays on different days.
Latvia The Day of the
State Border Guard of
Latvia has been celebrated on November 7 since 2015, marking the founding of the force in 1919.
Lithuania The Day of the
State Border Guard of
Lithuania is celebrated on June 29.
Belarus Belarus has recognized 28 May as Border Guards Day since its independence in 1991 and celebrates the holiday similarly to
Russia. The border troops of both
Belarus and
Russia commonly hold joint parades during the holiday.
Kazakhstan In
Kazakhstan, the Day of the Border Guard is celebrated on August 18. It became a professional holiday in 1992, and was included to the calendar of professional holidays in 2002.
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan has recognized 28 May as Border Guards Day since its independence in 1991 and celebrates the holiday similarly to
Russia. The date of the holiday was shifted to October 29 in 2003 by order of President
Akayev, but was changed back to its original date 2 years later due to appeals veterans of the
Soviet Border Troops and the
Kyrgyz Frontier Force.
Moldova June 10 celebrates the founding of the
Moldovan Border Police in 1995.
South Ossetia South Ossetia has recognized 28 May as Border Guards Day since its independence in 1991 and celebrates the holiday similarly to
Russia.
Tajikistan Tajikistan has recognized 28 May as Border Guards Day since its independence in 1991 and celebrates the holiday similarly to
Russia. 2014 celebrated the 20th anniversary since the establishment of the
Tajik Border Troops. In honor of this anniversary, a military parade in central Dushanbe was held, with the commander of the Border Troops, Lieutenant General Rajabali Rahmonali and Commander of the Dushanbe Military Garrison, Major General Bakhtiyor Ruzmonshoev inspecting the more than 1,000 troops who participated in the parade.
Turkmenistan Border Guards Day is celebrated on August 11 in
Turkmenistan, honoring the founding of the
State Border Service of Turkmenistan.
Ukraine In Ukraine, Border Guards Day (
Ukrainian: День прикордонника) has been celebrated on April 30 as an official holiday since 2018. After Ukraine gained its independence, the date of celebration was moved to November 4 by decree of
President of Ukraine,
Leonid Kravchuk. The new date however, did not take root, with border guards who served during the Soviet era recognizing May 28 as Border Guards Day. The holiday was moved back to its original in 2003, but was changed in 2018 to April 30 by order of President
Petro Poroshenko as a result of his
de-Russification policy following the
Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. ==See also==