The European Council approved the decision on December 8, 2022, not to recognize Russian documents issued in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and Georgia.
Source: The European Council
“Today, the Council adopted a decision on the non-acceptance of Russian travel documents issued in Ukraine and Georgia. This decision is a response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine and Russia’s practice of issuing Russian international passports to residents of the occupied regions. It also follows Russia’s unilateral decision to recognize the independence of the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 2008,” noted the European Council.
Thus, Russian travel documents issued in these regions or to residents of these temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine will not be accepted as valid travel documents for obtaining visas or for crossing the borders of the Schengen area.
“Russian travel documents issued in these regions are already not recognized, or in the process of not being recognized, by EU member states. This decision aims to set out a common approach, ensure the proper functioning of the external border and common visa policies and safeguard the security of EU member states,” explained the European Council.
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