Photo: Ukrinform
The Ukrainian side is considering retaliatory measures, as reported by spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Deshchytsia. The representative of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that if Russia applies these rules to Ukrainian citizens, Ukraine will be forced to use a similar registration principle for Russian citizens. According to him, the Russian side's communication about the intention to introduce new migration rules is under consideration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. 'We are conducting relevant work with other Ukrainian agencies on how to respond to the Russian side's proposal,' he said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation states that the conditions for registration of foreigners are not discriminatory towards Ukrainian citizens, and also calls on Ukraine to hold consultations on the registration of Ukrainian citizens in Russia and Russian citizens in Ukraine. The press service of the Russian Embassy in Ukraine distributed the corresponding commentary from the Department of Information and Press of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The Russian Foreign Ministry explained that the new registration conditions are associated with changes in Russian legislation that abolished the institute of registration of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation at the place of stay and established new rules for migration registration, providing for mandatory registration within three days at the place of stay for all categories of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation. The Russian Foreign Ministry also recalled that the Ukrainian side was warned about such changes and was offered to conduct joint work on the relevant regulatory acts. 'In this regard, the Russian side informed the Ukrainian side of its intention to apply the provisions of these laws to its citizens and proposed concluding an intergovernmental Protocol on terminating the Protocol of October 30, 2004, on amendments to the intergovernmental Agreement on visa-free travel of citizens of the Russian Federation and Ukraine of January 16, 1997,' the Russian Foreign Ministry noted.
At the same time, the Russian side proposed that the Ukrainian side hold consultations to coordinate the draft of the mentioned protocol with a view to its speedy conclusion. 'The Russian side expects a prompt response to this proposal,' the commentary says. 'We hope that with regard to Russian citizens staying in Ukraine, norms of a discriminatory nature for Russians will also not be created,' the Russian Foreign Ministry summarized.
Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Viktor Chernomyrdin already noted that he is confident in the introduction of such registration and that much in this matter will depend on diplomatic negotiations.
Recall that the new migration registration rules are far from new - they existed until November 9, 2004, when the Russian government approved a draft protocol that allowed Ukrainian citizens to stay in Russia for up to 90 days without registration. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov signed a decree approving the draft proposed by the Russian Foreign Ministry on amendments to the Russian-Ukrainian intergovernmental agreement on visa-free travel of January 16, 1997. According to the text of the document, citizens of the two countries, on a reciprocal basis, are exempt from registration with the competent authorities at the place of stay in the territory of the other state, if the period of stay does not exceed 90 days, provided they have a migration card marked by the border control authority.