question about entering Russia with an Israeli passport

[John Dunn]

The agreement does indeed exist, but the abolition of the visa requirement is aimed at the tourist trade and is only partial.  In particular, it does not apply to Israeli passport holders intending to study or work in Russia, and there may be other restrictions.

More generally, the Russians profess themselves keen to get rid of visas.  There have been lengthy discussions between Russia and the Schengen countries (most of the EU + Norway, Switzerland and, possibly, Iceland) which led to the simplification of visa procedures for certain categories of visitors, but what, if anything, this means in practice I don't know.  The present state of Russia/EU relations seems to make further progress unlkely.  The same applies to the UK (not a party to Schengen), where, in any case, talks seem to have been even more desultory and with nugatory results.  I haven't heard of any talks taking place with the US.

John Dunn.

-----Original Message-----
From: Alina Israeli <aisrael at AMERICAN.EDU>
To: SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:50:01 -0400
Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] question about entering Russia with an Israeli passport

It must be true, since the agreement was signed: http:// 
www.newsru.com/russia/20mar2008/israel.html; http://www.haaretz.co.il/ 
hasen/spages/936212.html

And according to "Finansovye izvestiya" the number of tourists grew  
due to visa requirements simplifications: Правда, некоторым странам  
повезло - к примеру, тому же Израилю. За три последних месяца  
прошлого года туда съездили аж на 40% больше россиян. Это понятно:  
случилось долгожданное событие - отменили визовый режим. (http:// 
www.finiz.ru/tourism/article1253258)

Genevra Gerhart wrote:
 > This was hearsay:
 > I was told that beginning I believe last August, Russians could go  
to Israel
 > without a visa and Israelis could go Russia without a visa.
 > Too bad we can't do the same.



John Dunn
Honorary Research Fellow, SMLC (Slavonic Studies)
University of Glasgow, Scotland

Address:
Via Carolina Coronedi Berti 6
40137 Bologna
Italy
Tel.: +39 051/1889 8661
e-mail: J.Dunn at slavonic.arts.gla.ac.uk
johnanthony.dunn at fastwebnet.it

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