Russia proposes shorter stay for CIS, Georgian truck drivers

Russia’s Interior Ministry has proposed shortening the permitted stay in the country for professional truck drivers from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries and Georgia if those states decide to join the European Union.

The corresponding draft government resolution has been published on Russia’s official legal information portal, TASS reports.

Since June 30, truck drivers from CIS countries and Georgia who enter Russia without a visa have been allowed to remain in the country for up to 180 days. The previous limit was 90 days.

In an explanatory note accompanying the draft, the Interior Ministry said that applications by CIS states and Georgia to join the EU would, in its assessment, contradict the objectives of the Eurasian Economic Union and pose a threat to Russia’s national security.

If adopted, the proposed measure would reduce the maximum period of stay for citizens of those countries to 90 days within a calendar year.

By Tamilla Hasanova