Visa-free travel in Norwegian-Russian borderlands
Norwegian General Consul in Murmansk, Jon Fredriksen, today confirmed that Russian authorities have presented an official proposal on how to open up for visa-free travel in the border areas between Norway and Russia.
The visa-free travel between the border municipalities of Norway and Russia was one of the top issues discussed by Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov and Jonas Gahr Støre in this June’s meeting in Kirkenes, Norway, and Murmansk. Now, the idea might be materializing. In a presentation at the Stoltenberg Symposium in Kirkenes today, General Consul Fredriksen confirmed that the Russians had sent a concrete proposal to the Norwegian Foreign Ministry on how to proceed with the issue.
-We got the document from Moscow at the same time as Russia officially suspended military cooperation with NATO, Mr. Fredriksen said, thus highlighting the good neighbour relations with Russia despite recent general East-West tensions.
Only for locals
The visa-free travel permissions will only include the people living in a 30 km belt from the border. The Russian proposal is now being studied by Norwegian Foreign Ministry officials, the general consul said, adding that he was confident that a compromise on the issue will be found soon.
Five-year multiple visas
The announcement in Kirkenes comes at the same day as Norway opens up for five-year multi-visas for Russians living in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk Oblast. From 1 October, all Russians living in the two federal subjects will be entitled to get visas lasting for five years.
The only prerequisite for the visa applicants is that they previously have had a one-year visa and made no law offences in the period, a press release from the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion reads.
