On 15-16 March, Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin held telephone conversations with Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Roumas (twice), Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev, Prime Minister of Tajikistan Kokhir Rasulzoda, and Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov.
The situation linked with the new coronavirus infection was discussed during the telephone conversations. Mr Mishustin told his foreign counterparts that to ensure national security, protect the health of the population and curb the spread of the coronavirus infection in line with Russian law and the provisions of the applicable international treaties, the Government of the Russian Federation had made a decision to temporarily restrict the entry of foreign citizens and stateless persons to the Russian Federation, starting midnight of March 18, 2020 local time until midnight of May 1, 2020 local time.
It was noted that the entry restrictions would not apply to diplomatic mission and consular office staff in the Russian Federation, vehicle drivers on international roads, aircraft, ship and boat crews, international railway train crews, members of official delegations, and persons with diplomatic, service or ordinary private visas that were issued in connection with the death of a close relative, persons that permanently live in the Russian Federation or persons that go through air border crossing points.
During telephone conversations Mr Mishustin emphasized that the measures taken by the Russian Federation conform to the recommendations of the World Health Organisation, are caused by special circumstances and are only temporary.
The prime ministers agreed to maintain contact on the issues related to the further spread of the new coronavirus infection. In addition, they discussed some bilateral issues of mutual interest.
