MEPs say no to Russian passports from occupied regions of Ukraine, Georgia

The European Parliament on Thursday agreed not to accept travel documents that Russia has issued in the areas it illegally occupies in Ukraine and Georgia, the press office of the EU legislative body said.

With 540 votes in favour, six against and 36 abstaining, the European Parliament approved its mandate for negotiations with the European Council on a legislative proposal on the non-recognition of travel documents issued by Russia in occupied Ukrainian regions and territories of Georgia, for the purpose of issuing a visa or when crossing the EU’s external borders.

The voting MEPs noted the Russian annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine was illegal, and that the EU had condemned Russia’s decision to recognise the independence of Georgia’s regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia). 

Therefore, EU member states should no longer accept travel documents issued by Russia in these regions. According to the proposal, the Commission should consult EU member states and draw up a list of Russian travel documents that should not be accepted going forward”, MEPs said.

The EU Parliament and Council will now negotiate on the final form of the act. Once adopted by both institutions and published in the Official Journal of the EU, it will enter into force on the day after its publication.