In particular, the EU ambassadors agreed on a mandate for negotiating with the European Parliament in order to approve the relevant decision.

The European Union is preparing a decision on the non-recognition of foreign passports issued by Russia in the occupied Ukrainian territories.

This is stated in the statement of the Council of the EU.

“Russia has once again demonstrated its blatant disregard for the rules-based international order through its illegal annexation of Ukrainian regions. We will never recognize violations of the fundamental rights of Ukraine and Georgia to independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The EU stands in unity and determination with both countries and their peoples,” said Vit Rakusan, First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior of the Czech Republic, which currently presides over the EU Council.

It is reported that, in particular, the EU ambassadors agreed on a mandate for negotiating with the European Parliament regarding the adoption of a decision on the non-recognition of Russian travel documents issued on the territory of Ukraine and Georgia.

This decision is a response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine and Russia’s practice of issuing Russian passports to residents of the occupied territories. This also applies to Russia’s sole decision to recognize the “independence” of the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 2008.

In this regard, it is said that Russian travel documents issued in the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine and Georgia to residents who live there will not be determined by valid travel documents for obtaining a visa or for crossing the borders of the Schengen countries.

At the same time, it is said that Russian travel documents issued in these regions are no longer recognized, or are in the process of non-recognition by EU member states. At the same time, it is noted that this decision is aimed at establishing a common approach, ensuring the proper functioning of external borders and a common visa policy, as well as ensuring the security of EU member states.

Attempted annexation of Ukrainian territories

As UNIAN reported earlier, on September 6, the European Commission proposed not to recognize Russian passports issued in the occupied part of the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. This proposal should be considered by the European Parliament and the EU Council for a final decision.

At the same time, on September 23-27, the Russian invaders held pseudo-referendums in the occupied parts of four regions of Ukraine . In Kherson and Zaporozhye – about secession from Ukraine and joining Russia in Donetsk and Lugansk – about joining Russia. On September 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the annexation of parts of four regions of Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg assured that all 30 NATO member countries will never recognize Russia’s annexation of any Ukrainian territories.

(C)UNIAN 2022