EU’s decision on non-recognition of Russian passports takes effect on 22 December

The European Union’s decision on the non-acceptance of Russian travel documents issued in Ukraine and Georgia will enter into force on December 22.

The said move was published in the Official Journal of the European Union, saying that to ensure a common visa policy and a common approach to checks to which persons crossing the external borders are subject, no Russian travel documents issued in or to persons resident in regions or territories in Ukraine which are occupied by Russia or breakaway territories in Georgia, should be accepted as valid travel documents for the purposes of issuing a visa and of crossing the external borders.

It went on to say that in a bid to allow for the prompt application of the measures provided for in this decision, and due to the emergency situation in regions and territories in Ukraine occupied by Russia as well as in breakaway territories in Georgia, this Decision should enter into force as a matter of urgency on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The EU also stressed that on 1 September 2008 the European Council, in the Presidency conclusions of the extraordinary European Council, strongly condemned Russia’s unilateral decision to recognise the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and urged other countries not to recognise their independence.