You're reading: Russia starts issuing Russian passports in Crimea

Moscow - Russia has started issuing Russian passports in Crimea, Russian Federal Migration Service Chief Konstantin Romodanovsky said. "Work has begun. We have issued some passports today," Romodanovsky told Interfax.

“The international treaty was signed yesterday. Its temporary application started on March 18. And, of course, all Crimean residents who applied to the Federal Migration Service will get passports, because starting March 18 they are Russian citizens. Certain exceptions exist there but it is too early to talk about the,” Romodanovsky said.

“I think that the intensity of issuing documents will grow each day as citizens apply,” Romodanovsky said.