Authorities in Russia are considering abolishing entry visas for arrivals from some Islamic countries, as well as African countries, among them Egypt.
The announcement has been made by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, according to the Russia Today website, VisaGuide.World reports.
“We generally intend to abandon the entry visa system because this matter is very important for tourism and business,” he pointed out in this regard.
Bogdanov stressed that there is a special value Russia attaches to states of the Islamic world, the Arab world as well as Africa.
“With regard to the Gulf and Arab countries, we give preference to the countries that traditionally cooperate with us on many issues, which are primarily Egypt, Iraq, and Syria,” he pointed out.
The Deputy Foreign Minister stressed that the country is making similar efforts toward Asian countries that may, in the future, become paths for tourism and the business sector, also taking into account Malaysia and Indonesia.
Authorities in Russia are continuously attempting to facilitate the travel process for citizens from other countries.
In March this year, Russian leaders announced that they are working to ease visa procedures for citizens from six countries, also taking into account India, Syria, and Indonesia, among others.
The announcement was confirmed for TASS by the Deputy Foreign Minister, Yevgeny Ivanov.
“In addition to India, we are also working on draft inter-government agreements that imply mutual simplification of visa regime with Angola, Vietnam, Indonesia, Syria, and the Philippines,” the Deputy Foreign Minister pointed out.
Previously, Ivanov revealed that his country is working on agreements on visa-free travel with the following 11 states: the Bahamas, Saudi Arabia, Barbados, Haiti, Kuwait, Mexico, Malaysia, Trinidad and Tobago, Oman, Bahrain, and Zambia.
Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, authorities in Moscow have turned to China, India as well as African nations in order to seek closer ties.
On the other hand, the European Union Member States imposed sanctions on Russia, which have been considered the harshest in recent years.
Last year, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the EU states agreed to suspend the visa facilitation agreement with Russia in response to the latter’s invasion of Ukraine.
Besides, the EU countries, especially those bordering Russia, urged the EU to introduce a complete ban on Russian tourists reaching Schengen countries, the number of which has surged since Russia abolished all COVID-related restrictions and opened borders.
While Russia’s actions were condemned by the EU as well as US and Japan, authorities in China and India have not taken similar measures.
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