03 January 2014, 14:12
Russian consulates abroad open "Olympic visa windows"
All the major Russian missions abroad have opened special "Olympic visa windows", where visas for foreign guests of the Winter Olympics in Sochi can be draw up on the day of address, said Vladimir Titov, a Deputy Foreign Minister.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that starting December 1, 2013, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) introduced a simplified system for getting Russian visas for foreign guests of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In November 2014, first "Olympic visa windows" were opened in Russian Consular Offices in some foreign capitals, particularly in London.
At the same time, Mr Titov has noted that so far the British Foreign Office refused to discuss with Russia the mutual simplified visa regime of the two countries. The British party associates its position with the Alexander Litvinenko's case.
Earlier, the Russian FSB has confirmed the words of Richard Sowers, the head of MI-6, who said that the British security services had resumed cooperation with their Russian counterparts to ensure the safety of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.
Let us add here that the 2014 Olympics expect to welcome about 8000 athletes and about 1.5 million visitors of the Games. Experts predict that the number of foreign guests will not exceed 10% of the total fan audience, while the basis of Russian spectators will be formed by residents of Kuban (Krasnodar Territory) and Rostov Region.
