The FSB detained heads and employees of a private clinic in the Moscow region for issuing fictitious certificates to Ukrainians, according to which more than 150 citizens of Ukraine entered Russia. This was reported by Interfax with reference to the FSB department for Moscow and the Moscow region.
The detainees are Russian citizens who, being heads and employees of a private medical clinic, organized the illegal production and issuance of fictitious invitation certificates to citizens of Ukraine. These certificates indicated the diagnoses with which you can come to the Russian Federation to undergo examinations in a medical institution. In fact, the citizens of Ukraine had no diseases and they did not need treatment.
“Further on, on the basis of received fictitious invitation certificates, more than 150 foreigners illegally arrived on the territory of the Russian Federation and got registered with the migration authorities in the Moscow region.”
A criminal case was initiated against the detainees under paragraphs "a" and "c" of part 2 of article 322.1 of the Criminal Code (Organization of illegal migration).
From January 1, 2023, citizens of Ukraine can enter Russia without issuing visas, they have the right to stay in Russia for 90 days within six months without contacting the Main Department of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. At this time, they can leave the Russian Federation or enter the country – this does not affect the total period of stay. In 2023, the agreement between the governments of the Russian Federation and Ukraine on visa-free travel dated January 16, 1997, was terminated, however, the Russian Federation decided to maintain a visa-free entry procedure for Ukrainian citizens into its territory.
Ukraine considered the decision to introduce a visa regime with Russia once again in the summer of 2022, against the background of the Russian invasion. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, this was done “as part of countering unprecedented threats to national security, sovereignty and territorial integrity [of Ukraine].” Despite the fact that Ukrainian diplomatic missions are closed in the Russian Federation, a visa can be obtained at Russian visa centers that have valid agreements with Ukraine.