Die Möglichkeit, erkennungsdienstlichen Behandlung für die EU und US-Bürger einzuführen

According to the newspaper “Izvestia”, the Chairwoman of the RF Civic Chamber’s Commission on public diplomacy and support for compatriots living abroad Elena Sutormina appealed to the Russian Minister of Internal Affairs Vladimir Kolokoltsev with the proposal to oblige the US and EU nationals to be fingerprinted at the entrance to the Russian Federation.

“Americans introduced a fingerprinting procedure long time ago, and the European Union introduced it last year. So, we suppose it is an absolutely adequate measure to introduce fingerprinting”, argues E. Sutormina.

The introduction of a mandatory procedure of fingerprinting for US and EU nationals entering Russia may have both positive and negative consequences.

On the one hand, nowadays it is becoming increasingly commonplace for the representatives of extremist organizations and militants from the Middle East to infiltrate the territory of the European Union. The possibility of their penetration into Russia from the territory of the EU confirms the advisability of introducing fingerprinting for the European citizens entering Russia.

At the same time, the introduction of а fingerprinting procedure may become an additional obstacle the foreign citizens meet with while obtaining a Russian visa, in addition to the existing difficulties in filling in the consular questionnaire and provision of other required visa documents. There is a possibility that such a measure would have a negative impact on the flow of foreign tourists entering the country.

According to “Izvestia”, now the hearings on this controversial issue are being prepared in the Civic Chamber. In particular, it is planned to discuss the participants of this event and the list of countries for citizens of which such a measure will be applied.