The authorities of Kazakhstan have announced that the country has decided to tighten its entry rules for those who are able to enter and remain in the country for a limited period without a visa.
According to the authorities the decision to tighten the entry rules, which will enter into force this month, was taken in order to prevent foreigners from staying in Kazakhstan for over 90 days within a 180-day period, and this move will mainly affect Russians, VisaGuide.World reports.
The Washington Post explains that Kazakhstan became one of the main countries for citizens of Russia who decided to flee their country after Putin announced a partial military mobilization.
Based on data provided by the Ministry of Interior of Kazakhstan, around 1,000 Russians reached the country only in the first six days after Putin made the mobilization call. The number increased in the following months too. However, not all Russians who entered Kazakhstan decided to remain in the country.
Taking into account such movements of Russians from one country to another, Kazakhstan has decided to require Russians intending to stay in the country to obtain residence permits.
This means that the new restrictions that Kazakhstan is expected to introduce soon, will target Russians who crossed the border of Kazakhstan and return immediately, this way resetting the clock on the maximum visa-free stay of 90 days, the Washington Post stresses.
On the other hand, it has been emphasized that the new rules will not affect those who already hold temporary residence permits issued by the authorities of Kazakhstan.
The measures announced by Kazakhstan were commented on on Twitter. Dionis Cenusa who is a political analyst wrote on his official Twitter account that of all foreigners, Russians will be most affected.
“Kazakhstan is limiting the 90-day visa-free regime for foreigners to 180 days. It excludes the possibility of renewing the stay simply by leaving and returning to Kazakhstan after the expiration of 90 days. This measure will affect the Russians the most,” Cenusa wrote.
Additionally, Cenusa said he believes that by tightening the measures, Kazakhstan also wants to prevent migrants from Russia from becoming a burden as by leaving and entering the country with the aim of prolonging their stay they will not be able to integrate into the labor market of Kazakhstan.
While the number of Russians fleeing their country keeps increasing each day, the move has been criticized by the speaker of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, who said that Russians who have left the country should be punished.
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