The Russian government yesterday announced that it has lifted a ban previously imposed on travel from Nairobi to Moscow.
Russia had imposed the ban in December 2021 where citizens from Kenya were barred from entering the European country due to the pandemic.
The directive now allows students who want to apply for programmes in Russia-based institutions to do so, which were previously unavailable to access.
“Dear Kenyans! According to the Decree №440-R of the Russian Government, previously imposed restrictions (including those related to Kenyan students studying in) on entry to Russia, have been removed. You can now apply and get your visa in the Embassy,” the Embassy stated.
Russian envoy to Kenya Dimitry Maksimychev, however, maintained that the decree issued by the Russian Government that enlists categories of foreigners including diplomatic and service passport holders, students and cadets, foreign relatives of Russian citizens, participants of sports and business events would still be in place.
Kenya was among the countries affected by the Russian Decree which denied entry to foreigners from certain countries due to the influx of Covid-19 and the discovery of the Omicron variant.
“Due to the detection of Omicron, a new Covid-19 variant, in several countries, the taskforce for preventing the importation and spread of Covid-19 in the Russian Federation has temporarily restricted entry to Russia (including via third countries) for nationals and permanent residents of the following countries: South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar, Eswatini, Tanzania, Hong Kong and Kenya; as well as foreign nationals who visited the above countries within 14 days before arriving in Russia,” Russia stated.