Russian Consulates suspend issuing biometric passports ‘for technical reasons’

Today, 26 August, Russian Consulates in several countries have suspended the acceptance of applications for issuance of passports containing an electronic medium of biometric information (the duration of which is ten years), reports the Russian Foreign Ministry Consulate Department.

The agency’s statement says that the issuance of biometric passports is being suspended for technical reasons.

Similar statements have already been published by Russian Embassies in Azerbaijan, Germany, Latvia, Turkey, Finland, Sweden, and Estonia.

“Until the problem with issuance of passports containing an electronic medium of biometric information is fixed, citizens are able to apply for a passport that’s valid for five years,” a message on the website of the Russian Embassy in Turkey reads.