Kyiv to launch an electronic registry of Russian citizens visiting Ukraine
At a meeting on Monday, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) approved a decision to introduce a biometric control system for foreign citizens entering Ukraine and to implement an electronic pre-registration system for Russian citizens intending to enter Ukraine by January 1, 2018.
"The regulations for the state border crossing are being introduced. This decision was made by the NSDC, and all the relevant state authorities have received corresponding instructions: to secure the border crossing of our country through biometric passports, as well as mandatory collection of biometric data…this primarily concerns fingerprints for citizens of other countries and stateless persons, except for those countries with which Ukraine has appropriate agreements; that is, it is clear that this will primarily concern Russian citizens," Council Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov said commenting on the results of the NSDC meeting on Monday in Kyiv.
He stressed that the measures are taken due to the need to strengthen state security.
At the same time, the Secretary of the NSDC stressed the possibility that the system will launch ahead of schedule, provided that the corresponding infrastructure is ready.
In addition, Turchynov said, an electronic pre-registration system for Russian citizens for entry into Ukrainian territory will be implemented and in use by January 1, 2018.
"A corresponding technical infrastructure is being created at all points of crossing of the state border, which should be completed no later than early next year. At the same time, an electronic pre-registration system will be implemented for the citizens of the Russian Federation," said the NSDC Secretary.
Earlier, President Petro Poroshenko said that Ukraine would introduce biometric control for all citizens crossing the border.