Date:11/04/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/04/11/stories/2003041103311200.htm

International

Russia tightens visa rules for Indians

Moscow April 10. Russia has identified India among 21 nations as a country posing a ``threat of illegal immigration'' for Russia and has tightened visa rules for Indians.

According to the business daily Kommersamt, along with India, 20 more countries, including all the SAARC member-states, Afghanistan, China and Turkey have been put on Russia's ``blacklist'' and from now on, all visa applications of their citizens would have to be cleared by the FSB - Federal Security Service, an equivalent of the FBI.

PTI