Russia Moves to Reverse Tenfold Citizenship Fee Hike for Transnistria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia

Russia's Foreign Ministry prepared a draft government resolution to restore the $65 consular fee for Russian citizenship applications filed by residents of Transnistria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, reversing an August 1 hike that had raised the fee to $600 for applicants at consular offices outside Russia. Transnistrian leader Vadim Krasnoselsky had flagged that the increase was creating problems for residents applying under the simplified passportisation procedure, saying the issue was "in the process of being resolved."