European Parliament Decides to Reject Russian Travel Passports Issued in Occupied Georgian Regions
On October 20, the European Parliament decided to reject Russian travel passports issued in the seized parts of Georgia and Ukraine. 36 MEPs abstained, leaving 540 MEPs who voted in favor.
The choice is by an understanding reached by EU ambassadors on October 12 that prohibits the use of Russian travel papers issued in or to residents of Russian-occupied Georgian or Ukrainian territory to apply for visas or enter Schengen borders.
The final legislative act will then be negotiated by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. It will come into effect the day after it is published in the EU Official Journal after being approved by both institutions.
The EU's condemnation of Russia's recognition of the independence of occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia, as well as Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, the MEPs noted in their decision that EU member states and EEA allies should no longer accept travel documents issued by Russia in these regions.
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