Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has changed the rules for entry to Russia for Tajik citizens.

They will need a foreign passport for crossing the Russian border, RIA Novosti reported with a reference to the Cabinet of Ministers of Russia.

"The government was instructed to hold talks with the governments of the CIS member states [excepting member states of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space] on ensuring the regime of entry and exit of citizens of these countries to and from the Russian Federation with foreign passports," the report said.

Under the new rules, the citizens of Tajikistan will enter and leave Russia only with foreign, official and diplomatic passports, seaman's passport and certificate on return to Tajikistan- the documents which are fixed under an agreement on visa-free travel.

The new rules will be applied from January 1, 2015.

Russia has become for most Tajiks not only a neighboring country, but also a permanent place for working and earning. Currently, about 1.5 million Tajik citizens are working in Russia.

In December 2012, Russian President Vladimir Putin said foreign passports should be mandatory for all nationals, including those from CIS member states, to enter Russia as of 2015.

"No later than in 2015 the entry to Russia should be permitted only by foreign passports, not domestic ones," he said. "I ask the relevant ministries to study this issue with their partners in the CIS."

Putin emphasized "no problems should be created for anyone" and stressed the need to provide necessary financial and technical support.

"At the same time, the current rules - maximally simplified rules for crossing the border and staying in the country - will remain effective within the framework of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space," he said.