Switzerland has said it will not recognize passports issued by Russia in the occupied regions of Ukraine and Georgia, in a statement published on the website of the Swiss Federal Council.
“People from the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine or the separatist regions of Georgia will no longer be able to obtain a Schengen visa or cross the internal Schengen border with a travel document issued by Russia,” the statement reads.
It is noted that this concerns ordinary and diplomatic passports, residence permits for stateless persons, return certificates for sailors and identity documents.
Dates of non-recognition of documents for regions of Ukraine depend on the region. In the case of the occupied regions of Georgia, August 26, 2008 is indicated as the date – so it will no longer be possible to obtain a Schengen visa with Russian travel documents issued after this date.
“In August 2008, Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent countries. Switzerland considers these regions as an integral part of Georgia,” the statement reads.
