Macedonia plans to extend visa-free travel

Macedonia is planning to extend visa-free travel for Russian citizens to one year, the Russian consulate reported on Friday. The term of visa-free formalities, which were introduced for Russians in March 2012, expires on March 16, Russian consul in Skopje Oleg Dunayevsky told Itar-Tass. The Macedonian Foreign Ministry has sent a draft document on extending visa-free formalities for Russian citizens to one year to the government. “At present, the document is being debated. We hope that it will be approved shortly,” the Russian consul said. Macedonia introduces visa-free formalities for Russian citizens on March 15, 2012. Thus, Russian citizens have no need to present visas on the border, as well as vouchers and invitations’ originals. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in January that he was thankful to his Macedonian counterpart for the country’s decision to introduce simplified border crossing for Russian citizens.