Abstract
<jats:p>This paper uses the ‘Policy – Perception – Practice’ approach to assess the impact of neighbourhood character dynamics and restrictions on cross-border relations in the Pskov region between 2013 and 2024. The information base includes the authors’ database of documents that regulate various aspects of cross-border interactions in Russia, over 3,000 articles from Pskov media for 2013-2024, and expert interviews with government officials, as well as semi-structured interviews with the population in the regional capital and specific border towns. The analysis found that the cross-border relations of the Pskov region are asymmetric. Before the global pandemic and the geopolitical crisis of 2022, there was an emphasis on fostering cooperation with Latvia and Estonia, a collaboration that was institutionalised. The prevailing sentiment among the population, as shown by an analysis of media discourse, was that the Baltic borderland was seen only as a source of opportunities, while the Belarusian borderland was also viewed as a source of challenges. This finding underscores the imperative for cross-border cooperation to mitigate the potential for illegal activities, competitive economic pressures, illegal migration, and trade-related activities to grow without such collaboration. Despite a clear increase in the intensity of cross-border ties with Belarus after 2022, the study reveals significant shortcomings in the current approach to cross-border cooperation in Russia.</jats:p>