The key facts

  • Maria Zakharova said Russia awaits clarifications from Kazakhstan on the electronic entry permit
  • The new rules affect citizens of EAEU countries
  • Earlier the Foreign Ministry reported that no notifications about introducing a fee had been received

Moscow awaits clarifications from Astana

Russia expects to receive additional clarifications from the Kazakh authorities on the procedure for the new decree on mandatory electronic entry permits to the country. Official spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova announced this at a briefing; her words were reported by Interfax.

Position of the Russian Foreign Ministry

According to Zakharova, Moscow respects Astana's right to improve migration legislation, but wishes to receive clarifications, since the new provisions affect citizens of member states of the Eurasian Economic Union. '...we expect additional clarifications from the Kazakh side regarding the procedure for their application, taking into account existing international arrangements, including within the Union and other migration associations in the Eurasian space...', the diplomat said. She added that such clarifications would be useful for timely informing citizens in the interests of unhindered mutual travel, labor activity, and the development of business and humanitarian ties.

Background

In early September, Alexander Sternik, director of the Third Department for CIS Countries of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that the Russian side had not received notifications from Kazakh partners about the possibility of introducing a fee for Russians for an electronic entry permit to the republic. It was previously reported that Russians would have to obtain an electronic permit to enter Kazakhstan.