Russia halts Chinese visa-free tourism, work visas over Coronavirus

MOSCOW: Russia’s government on Saturday halted visa-free tourism for Chinese nationals and stopped issuing them with work visas over the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

An order posted on the government website said the measures were to “ensure the safety of the country, protect public health and prevent the spread of the new coronavirus”.

The order, dated Friday, said that the FSB security service, which is in charge of border guards, should halt visa-free tourism from midnight Saturday.

Chinese tour groups visiting Russia have been eligible for visa-free travel since 2000.