Azerbaijan to amend rules for Russian citizens' stay in response to new Russian regulations

Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has announced plans to amend its rules regarding the stay of Russian citizens in the country, in response to new requirements introduced by Russia.

The ministry's decision follows Russia's recent changes to its migration laws, which tighten the conditions for foreign citizens staying in the country, Caliber.Az reports.

In a statement, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry emphasized that the adjustments would be made primarily with a focus on safeguarding the rights of Azerbaijani citizens. "As with foreign policy matters, the Azerbaijani side will adhere to the principles of parity and reciprocity when addressing temporary stay and migration issues," the ministry said.

In the coming days, the ministry will implement changes to the regulations governing the temporary stay of Russian Federation citizens in Azerbaijan, in alignment with Russia's recent legislative amendments. These amendments, announced by Russia's Foreign Ministry, will take effect on January 1, 2025, and limit the duration of temporary stays for foreign nationals to just 90 days within a calendar year. This is a reduction from the previous rules, which allowed foreign citizens to stay for 90 days within 180 days, or 180 days within a year. Additionally, foreign nationals will now be required to register at their place of stay within seven working days of entering Russia, a significant shift from the earlier system.

Azerbaijan's response reflects a move toward implementing similar restrictions on Russian citizens in accordance with the principle of reciprocity, ensuring that both nations' policies align in matters of temporary stays and migration.

By Tamilla Hasanova