RUSSIA ORDERS HEALTH AND DRUG CHECKS FOR FOREIGNERS.

A new law has come into force in Russia requiring foreigners and long-term visitors to be fingerprinted and have regular mandatory medical check-ups. Anyone staying for over 90 days will be checked for sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis and drug use. Several business groups, including the German-Russian chamber of commerce abroad, have objected to the law. Meanwhile, Russia’s health ministry has denied reports that foreigners will have to repeat the checks every three months.

It will be recalled that US ambassador Jason Rebholz said earlier this month that the law was xenophobic and made it more difficult for foreigners to live in Russia. Under the law, signed during the summer by President Vladimir Putin, foreigners staying for over three months have to be fingerprinted with immediate notice. But from March 1^st they must also be checked for HIV and Aids, tuberculosis, leprosy and syphilis, as well as the “presence or absence” of use of narcotic or psychotropic drugs and new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances.