European structures provisionally agree non-acceptance of documents issued in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, Georgia
The agreed text is subject to approval by the two European structures before going through the formal adoption procedure. Photo: Reuters
Tweet 
Share
The European Council and European Parliament on Thursday reached a provisional agreement on non-acceptance of Russian travel documents issued in the occupied territories of 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 recognise the independence of the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 2008”, the statement of the European Council said.
The statement also noted Russian travel documents issued in, or to persons resident in, Russian-occupied regions in Ukraine or “breakaway territories” in Georgia would not be accepted as valid travel documents for obtaining a visa or crossing the borders of the Schengen area.
Documents issued in these regions are already not recognised, or in the process of not being recognised, by European Union member states, with the new decision aiming to set out a common approach.
The agreed text is subject to approval by the two European structures before going through the formal adoption procedure.
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.
European Union ambassadors on Wednesday agreed a mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on a decision on non-acceptance of Russian travel documents issued in the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine and Georgia.
The European Parliament has reaffirmed its support for Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations in resolutions on the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
The head of the State Security Service of Georgia, Grigol Liluashvili, on Friday said the occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia by Russia was the main threat to Georgia's statehood.
The Council of the European Union on Thursday adopted a decision on non-acceptance of Russian travel documents issued in the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine and Georgia.