A queue near the French embassy, Moscow.
Photo: Ilya Pitalev
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State Duma Eases Visa Procedures with E.U.
The lower chamber of Russia’s parliament, the State Duma, has ratified the agreement concluded with the European Union to ease visa procedures. The document was sealed in Sochi May 25, 2006.
Once finally passed, the visa agreement with the European Union will materially ease provision both of one-time three-month visas and of multiple visas extending for a year to five years. Under new regulations, the visas will be released following direct application of host organizations without presenting invitations currently required under the laws.
But the facilitated procedures will be in force only for some categories of people, including members of official delegations, entrepreneurs and envoys of business companies, drivers involved in international passenger/cargo traffic, journalists, scientists and figures of culture and education, students and schoolchildren taking part in exchange programs, participants of international sports competitions, participants of sister-cities programs, persons visiting military and civil cemeteries, close relatives of persons legally living in other countries.
Holders of diplomatic passports will benefit from the visa-free procedures for trips of total duration of three months made during half a year.
State Duma has also ratified the readmission agreement of Russia and the European Union that was signed in Sochi on May 25, 2006.
www.kommersant.com
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