The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation has disclosed that issuing internal passports for Russian citizens abroad in Russian institutions overseas poses significant logistical challenges. The revelation came through official channels and was first reported by RIA Novosti. The officials explained that the matter requires coordination across several government departments, and the resulting conclusion was that the chosen algorithm would be difficult to execute given current logistics and administrative constraints.
In parallel, Tatyana Moskalkova, who previously served as the Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia, proposed the creation of Open Migration Facilities abroad to facilitate the issuance of Russian passports for citizens living outside the country. She emphasized the need to simplify the passport application process so that Russians could obtain documents without returning to Russia, arguing that this would ease practical barriers for many individuals who are currently hindered by distance and travel requirements.
The Ombudsman highlighted that such simplifications were necessary in light of ongoing economic and logistical difficulties, as well as the broader context of restrictions imposed on Russia following the start of the special military operation in Ukraine. These circumstances have affected people’s ability to access passport services through traditional channels and have prompted discussions about new pathways to document security and identity for citizens abroad.
Previously, in Chechnya, there were policy changes regarding the issuance of foreign passports to certain groups. Specifically, the practice was halted for young people under the age of 30 who were not accompanied by their parents, reflecting a shift in how identity documents were managed for vulnerable or transitional-age residents in that region.