Moscow Refuses to Extend Visas to Georgians in Russia

Russia’s Federal Migration Service (FMS) said Georgian citizens currently in Russia, whose visas are about to expire, should leave the country.

The move comes after Russia closed its embassy and consulate in Tbilisi on September 3, after Georgia cut diplomatic ties with Russia.

Interfax news agency quoted an FMS official as saying that visas will be extended only for 10 days, but only in cases of “force majeure.”

“In case of illness or other types of force majeure situations, as envisaged in Russian law, the FMS can extend a visa for ten days,” Alexander Aksenov, head of the FMS visa unit, told Interfax.