Russian Federation Council ratifies visa recognition deal with Belarus

January 25, BPN. The Russian Federation Council says it has ratified an agreement between the governments of Russia and Belarus on the mutual recognition of visas.

The agreement is aimed at “creating one migration space and regulating the procedure for foreign nationals and stateless persons crossing the Russian-Belarusian border,” said Yelena Afanasyeva, a member of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs.

According to the deal, each state would recognize visas and other entry permits issued by the other state, as well as passport stamps.

“We create a system to interchange data on issued and canceled entry and stay permits, as well as on those passing the Russian and Belarusian border checkpoints. It will allow us to control foreigners’ entry and exit from the territory of our countries,” Afanasyeva said.

The senator added that authorities “have a relevant algorithm of actions” when it comes to the verification and synchronization of Russian and Belarusian “stop lists.”

“Each country has the right to refuse entry or cut short any foreign national’s or stateless person’s stay,” she said.

The Russian State Duma ratified the intergovernmental agreement, signed on June 19, 2020 in Minsk, on January 17. Belarus ratified it in late 2020.

Apart from that, Belarusian and Russian nationals are entitled to visa-free travel within the Union State.