[ASEEES] Request for info on Russian visa incidents

[Park, Lynda]

Dear ASEEES Members:

This e-mail is for those who conduct research in Russia only.

In the last few months, we have heard stories of scholars being denied access to archives or, worse, fined and deported from Russia for trying to conduct research while on a tourist or business visa.  We do not wish to alarm anyone; the stories seem few and far between and happening outside of Moscow and St. Petersburg.  However, we would like to assess if there is a broad change in visa practice (not necessarily in official policy) in Russia.

If you have experienced visa problems in the last two years - whether you were denied a visa, denied access to libraries/archives due to visa issues, or fined and deported for conducting research on a tourist or business visa, please complete the online form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/25L88YM  Your information will be kept confidential.  If you know of someone who experienced such an incident, please forward the link to him or her.  We would like to gather the information directly from the individual involved in the incident.

Also, we would like to take this opportunity to ask for any suggestions or expert opinions on how to improve the visa situation in Russia for researchers.  Suggestions can be submitted using the same form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/25L88YM

Regards,

Lynda Park, Executive Director
Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies
203C Bellefield Hall | University of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA 15260-6424 USA
+1 (412) 648-9788 (direct), +1 (412) 648-9911 (main)
+1 (412) 648-9815 (fax)
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