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<p class="MsoNormal">Dear ASEEES Members:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>This e-mail is for those who conduct research in Russia only.
<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you have experienced visa problems in the <u>last two years</u> – 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: <b><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/25L88YM">https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/25L88YM</a></b> 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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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:
<b><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/25L88YM">https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/25L88YM</a></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Regards,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lynda Park, Executive Director<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies <o:p>
</o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">203C Bellefield Hall | University of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA 15260-6424 USA<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">+1 (412) 648-9788 (direct), +1 (412) 648-9911 (main)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">+1 (412) 648-9815 (fax)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.aseees.org/"><span style="color:#0563C1">www.aseees.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Association-for-Slavic-East-European-and-Eurasian-Studies/141362775903086"><span style="color:#0563C1">Find us on Facebook</span></a> |
<a href="http://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=2585509"><span style="color:#0563C1">Join us on LinkedIn</span></a> |
<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/aseeestudies"><span style="color:#0563C1">Follow us on Twitter</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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