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Crimea and Sevastopol

EU makes no special decisions on visas for residents of Crimea

"EU does have the so-called visa code. It says that visas are issued at the place of permanent residence," Russian Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov says

© ITAR-TASS/Artem Geodakyan

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EU bans issuing visas for Crimean citizens in Russia

MOSCOW, March 31./ITAR-TASS/. The European Union has so far not adopted any special decisions on how visas will be issued to citizens of Russia living in Crimea, Russian Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said.

He said Russia was watching the situation and would respond appropriately.

“The European Union does have the so-called visa code that entered into force in 2010. It says that visas are issued at the place of permanent residence. But I think this is a political issue rather than consular,” Chizhov told Rossiya 24 television on Monday, March 31.

“The EU has adopted no special decisions thus far. We are closely watching the discussion in the working groups and will respond appropriately,” he said.

“EU consulates in Ukraine can affix visas into Russian or any other passports as well. But it is unlikely that residents of Crimea will want to go to Ukraine to get a visa and some simply won’t be able to do that. We do not know what kind of regime the Ukrainian authorities will create for the movement of people between Crimea and Ukraine,” Chizhov said.

He believes that visa issues can be solved with EU countries on a bilateral basis.

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Crimea and Sevastopol

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