Russia Provides Ease Visa for Six Countries, One is for Indonesia

VIVA – Russia is preparing an agreement on easing visa applications in six countries, including Indonesia. The state TASS news agency cited Deputy Foreign Minister Evgeny Ivanov as saying on Sunday.

Apart from Indonesia, the visa is providing to several countries such as India, Angola, Syria, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

"Apart from India, we are also working on a draft intergovernmental agreement that implies mutual simplification of visa regimes with Angola, Vietnam, Indonesia, Syria, and the Philippines," Ivanov said.

Previously, Ivanov revealed that Russia is seeking visa-free travel agreements in 11 countries, including Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahamas, Barbados, Haiti, Zambia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, and Trinidad and Tobago.

In late February, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin approved a "simplified" visa system for citizens of 19 countries, including Indonesia.

The countries that can use this benefit are Bahrain, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), Kuwait, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Thailand, Turkey, and the Philippines.

Russia, which invaded neighboring Ukraine last year, has been heavily sanctioned by the international community, especially by Western and European countries.

The number of sanctions received has made Russia rack its brains, by looking for alternative cooperation with other countries such as China and African countries.