Russia continues to quietly close her doors...

I had always believed that the missions window of opportunity in Russia was a limited one and now here's one more sign that our time of free ministry in Russia is drawing to a close. During our time living in Russia it was evident that the Russian government was ambivalent at best and downright hostile at worst towards foreigners and ex-patriates living within her borders. The process of obtaining and renewing visas has always been notoriously difficult - with a definite sense that some of the "red" tape was actually intentional. Previously, ex-pats and foreigners in residence were able to get year-long, multiple-entry visas which allowed them to live in Russia a year at a time and get the visa renewed on an annual basis at any Russian embassy or consulate. Most ex-pats would take the very familiar "visa trip" - annual trips usually taken to some neighboring nation (e.g. Finland, Hungary, Ukraine, etc.) where one could apply for a renewed visa at the Russian embassy or consulate.

Evidently those days are over as the Russian government further tightens laws regarding foreign residents. We just received an email from our friends, Eric and Cara Coe who serve with Campus Crusade in Russia. New laws have just been signed into action by the Russian government and these laws directly affect many missionaries in Russia. Now foreigners on multiple-entry visas cannot stay in Russia more 90 days at a time (as opposed to one full year!). In addition, foreigners must leave after 90 days and stay outside of Russia for 90 days! Just to make things even more difficult, new regulations also stipulate that foreigners must get their next entry visa from the country of their citizenship - this means that an American ex-pat in Russia must leave after 90 days (on a one year visa?!) and stay in the U.S. for 90 days before applying for re-entry. The U.S. citizen can no longer take the "visa trip/visa run" to Helsinki or Kiev to get their visa renewed for a year.

There are still many ambiguities regarding these new regulations and Russian foreign services are notoriously inconsistent in how they implement new laws and enforce them. Attempts by various agencies and groups to get answers from the Russian state department regarding these new laws have been met with lots of dead ends and confusion.

We are acutely aware of how difficult visa situations can be in Russia and now this new development just takes difficulties to a new level. At best, this means that many missionaries will have their normal life routines greatly disrupted - imagine having to leave your home ever 90 days and stay away for 90 days at a time. At worst, these new laws will give Russian officials further means for manipulating and handling foreigners in Russia. You can be sure that local officials now have even more ways to delay, make difficult, or deny visa applications. Join us in praying for those who serve the Lord in Russia. It seems that Russia is quietly, but firmly trying to close her doors again.