Russia Announces Visas for Citizens of Montenegro in Reciprocal Move

Oct. 14, 2026 Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Moskva News Agency Russia will introduce visa requirements for citizens of Montenegro in retaliation to Podgorica’s decision to end its bilateral visa-free travel agreement with Moscow as it seeks to join the EU in 2028. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed that Montenegro’s foreign ministry notified Moscow of its intent to cancel the 2008 mutual travel agreement on Sept. 28. “In practice, this means that starting Nov. 1, our citizens will only be able to enter and remain in Montenegro with visas. Accordingly, citizens of Montenegro will also have to obtain visas for trips to Russia,” Zakharova said. Montenegro announced in July that it would end visa-free access for citizens of Russia, Belarus, China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to align with EU standards. Zakharova argued the decision would curb Russian tourism, harm local businesses and degrade Montenegro’s investment climate. Montenegro has for years remained one of the few European countries to offer visa-free entry to Russians for up to 30 days and absorbed a large wave of anti-war Russian emigres after the invasion of Ukraine. Local media reported earlier this year that two-thirds of registered Russian residents had left Montenegro in anticipation of the new visa rules. “It’s pointless for Montenegro to expect Brussels to compensate them for their inevitable losses,” Zakharova said. She warned that EU accession would require prospective members among the Balkan nations to adopt a “confrontational anti-Russian course” that would go against their national interests. The subject of tightening border controls recently drew the attention of the founder of the popular pro-war Telegram channel Rybar, who was detained and deported from Montenegro on claims that he was seeking to film a documentary portraying EU integration as an externally imposed process. Russian-Montenegrin relations have been strained since 2016, when Podgorica accused Russia of plotting a failed coup with Serbian ultranationalists. The Kremlin denied that claim. Ties worsened further after Montenegro joined NATO in 2017 and aligned with EU sanctions over Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Montenegro has also banned Russian state media and expelled Russian diplomats for espionage, prompting Moscow to add the country to its list of “unfriendly” states. Reuters contributed reporting. Read more about: Visas , Balkans Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Montenegro Ends Visa-Free Entry for Russians Amid 2028 EU Membership Bid Montenegro has remained one of the few European countries to offer visa-free entry to Russians for up to 30 days, and saw a massive influx of anti-war... 1 Min read Russia to Ease Tourist Visa Requirements for 'Friendly States' Russia is planning to introduce visa-free travel for citizens of up to 11 states as well as ease entry requirements for citizens of some six others. 1 Min read EU Ministers Agree to Suspend Russian Visa Facilitation Deal EU foreign ministers agreed to suspend a 2007 visa facilitation deal with Russia but stopped short of a wider ban. U.S. Citizens Targeted in Russian Visa Clampdown An increasing number of Americans are facing visa problems or deportation from Russia due to worsening political ties, the Kommersant newspaper reported...