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5 Sep, 2015

Calls grow for easing Russia-Brunei visa procedure

Brunei, August 31, 2015, RBTH — A head of a business body looking to promote Russia’s trade with ASEAN countries called for Russia and Brunei to create a simplified bilateral visa regime.

Linar Yakupov, President of Regions-Russia Association told the Brunei Times that stringent visa regulations for Russians to enter Brunei were hampering tourism and trade.

Yakupov told the paper that Russian visitors do not require visas to enter Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam. “You see in those countries where you have no visa requirements; the businesses are growing much faster,” Yakupov said. He added that the easing of visa requirements needed to be reciprocal.

The Brunei Times added that last year, former Russian Ambassador to Brunei, Victor Selezenev, said long delays in visa issuance had been preventing Russian tourists from visiting Brunei.