DUSHANBE, March 31, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan citizens currently may temporarily use internal Republic of Tajikistan passports for traveling to the Russian Federation, Asia-Plus has learned at the Tajik MFA.    

The source at a MFA said that it is connected with shortage of blank passports for foreign travel, which has become the main document for those who want to travel outside Tajikistan since 2005.  

The ministry has sent official letter on this subject to relevant structures, including Tajik national air carrier, TajikAir, according to the source.

“Although in accordance with Russian’ government’s resolution on mutual travels of citizens of Russia and Tajikistan, citizens of the two countries may temporarily use internal passports for mutual travels, Tajik MFA made a decision in November 2005 prohibiting realization of air tickets on internal passports because our citizens have had problems connected with lack of passports for foreign travel in the Russian Federation,” the source said.  

On the provision of citizens with passports for foreign travel, the source noted that more than 184,000 blank passports were sent to the migration service at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and its branches in the provinces last year alone, and February this year, Tajikistan ordered for further 500,000 blank passports in Kazakhstan.