EU, Russia eye visa-free travel for Sochi olympics

A European parliament member said on Tuesday the Sochi Olympics in 2014 could be a good time to cancel the visa regime between Russia and the EU completely or at least for the duration of the games. Hannes Swoboda, an European parliament rapporteur on Russia, told a news conference in Moscow that the EU and Russia would decide on liberalizing the visa regime by the end of this year or by the end of 2013, if both sides are truly willing. Russia handed over a draft agreement on a visa-free regime for short-term trips at the Russia-EU summit in Rostov-on-Don in 2010 and then the sides discussed the issue closer at the Russia-EU summit in Brussels last December. At the moment, holders of diplomatic passports have the right to visa-free travel to the Schengen zone countries for 90 days. Russia and the EU are considering extending this right to crews of civilian ships and aircraft. Russia is also seeking visa-free travel for holders of business passports.