18:00, 30 July 2010

Abkhazia starts issuing foreign passports

Sketch of Abkhazian passport with high degree of protection. Photo by the "Caucasian Knot"

The Passport and Visa Service (PVS) of the MIA of the Republic of Abkhazia has started issuing Abkhazian passports for travels abroad. Valery Maliya, head of the PVS, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that first 39 passports were issued on July 29.

First of all the document, by which citizens of Abkhazia can freely cross the Russian-Abkhazian border, was given to the entrants who go to study in Russian higher schools and to those who need treatment abroad but could not leave Abkhazia for absence of Russian passports - the domestic Abkhazian passports do not allow to cross the Russian border because they have low degree of protection.

According to Mr Maliya, today 46 more documents arrived to the PVS. Citizens of Abkhazia may apply for their foreign passports at their residences, while the PVS is in charge of issuing them.

According to Vice-President Alexander Ankvaba, the foreign passport of a citizen of Abkhazia meets all international standards and has a high degree of protection.

Source: CK correspondent