EU provisionally agrees to not accept Russian travel documents issued in Ukraine, Georgia

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - European Council said on Thursday that the Council Presidency and European Parliament provisionally agreed not to accept Russian travel documents issued in Ukraine and Georgia.

It will seek approval of the Council and the European Parliament before going through the formal adoption procedure, the Council said in a statement.

"This decision is a response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine and Russia’s practice of issuing Russian international passports to residents of the occupied regions," it said. "It also follows Russia’s unilateral decision to recognise the independence of the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 2008."

Russian travel documents issued in Russian-occupied regions in Ukraine or breakaway territories in Georgia are already not recognized as valid travel documents for obtaining a visa or crossing the borders of the Schengen area, or they are in the process of not being recognized by EU member states, it said.

"This decision aims to set out a common approach, ensure the proper functioning of the external border and common visa policies and safeguard the security of EU member states," it added.