Kazakhstan yet to decide whether to apply tit-for-tat measures in response to new Russian entry rules - Foreign Ministry

ASTANA. June 9 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan is studying Russia's requirements for collecting biometric data from foreigners crossing the Russian border, while possible tit-for-tat measures are still under discussion, Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov said.

"The Russian side has recently introduced new border control requirements [...]. Will Kazakhstan apply tit-for-tat measures? We are studying this matter carefully. This requires consultation with our government agencies. We will provide more details in the future," Smadiyarov said at a press briefing in Astana on Monday.

He urged Kazakh citizens traveling to Russia to familiarize themselves with the new border control requirements. "So that there are no surprises and no questions at the border," Smadiyarov added.

As reported, Russia imposed trial biometric identification requirements for foreigners and stateless persons crossing the Russian border on December 1, 2024. The pilot program was initially conducted at Moscow's Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, and Zhukovsky Airports, as well as at the Mashtakovo motor border checkpoint in the Orenburg region. This practice will be extended to all border checkpoints on June 30, 2025.

Russian Interior Ministry spokesperson Irina Volk said in late May that starting June 30, as part of the second phase of the experiment, foreign citizens will be required to fill out an electronic application form about their planned visit to Russia, which must be submitted no later than three days before their arrival.

The second phase of the experiment to test the rules and conditions for foreign citizens and stateless persons to enter and leave Russia will start on June 30, she said. From that date, in order to enter Russia without a visa, foreign citizens, including legal representatives of incapacitated or minor persons, will be required to fill out an electronic application form for their planned entry into Russia no later than 72 hours before their planned trip, Volk said on Telegram.