Following last night Russian Government announcement of the new COVID-19 restrictions, an official NOTAM has been published today which reads:
(A1610/20 NOTAMN
Q)UUWV/QOAXX/IV/BO/A/000/999/5535N03716E999
A)UUUU B)2003172100 C)2004302100 EST
E)IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDER OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION NR 635-R DATED 16 MAR 2020, THE FEDERAL AGENCY FOR AIR TRANSPORT INFORMS USERS OF THE AIRSPACE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
OF THE FOLLOWING:
WITH EFFECT FROM 0000 (LOCAL TIME) 18 MAR 2020 TILL 0000 (LOCAL TIME) 01 MAY 2020 A TEMPORARY RESTRICTION ON ENTRY INTO THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IS IMPOSED FOR FOREIGN CITIZENS AND STATELESS PERSONS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARRIVE FROM THE TERRITORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS, AS WELL AS THE CITIZENS OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS.
THIS RESTRICTION IS NOT APPLIED TO ACCREDITED (OR APPOINTED) PERSONNEL OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS AND CONSULAR POSTS OF THE FOREIGN STATES IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES, OTHER OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIONS OF FOREIGN STATES IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, AS WELL AS FAMILY MEMBERS OF AFOREMENTIONED PERSONS, FLIGHT CREWS, OFFICIAL DELEGATIONS AND PERSONS POSSESSING DIPLOMATIC/SERVICE VISAS OR ORDINARY PRIVATE VISAS ISSUED DUE TO A CLOSE RELATIVE DEATH, RESIDENTS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND TRANSIT VISITORS TRAVELLING BY AIR THROUGH BORDER CROSSING CHECKPOINTS.)
There is no explicit international flights ban and airports are open for international traffic. General aviation flights without passengers are allowed to and inside Russia with foreign nationals acting as crew for ferry, private, cargo and transit flights.
Important checklist item to consider is the suspension of tourist visa applications processing by Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and consulates in the foreign countries. Only diplomatic and business visas will be granted while restrictions are in force.
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