Plastic identification cards will start replacing paper passports as the main identification and domestic travel documents for Russian citizens according to a new initiative from the Federal Migration Service.
The new documents will start being issued in certain regions in 2015 with the full-scale replacement of paper passports planned to have been completed by 2016, the service said Tuesday.
The new IDs will state the holder's name, gender, place of birth, the place and time of the document's issue as well as a photograph and signature. The plastic card will also record data electronically, allowing it to be scanned quickly, and will be valid for ten years, Vedomosti reported.
Paper-based passports currently in use will remain valid until 2030 to give people enough time to get used to new form of identification.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
