Russia could soon stop issuing biometric...

A letter from Konstantin Romodanovsky to Communications Minister Igor Shchegolev obtained by the respected Kommersant daily, warns that the system for issuing the passports is overloaded, with computers storing the data already 90% full, and an inter-agency data center not yet up and running.

Federal Migration Service figures show 1.3 million biometric passports have been issued this year, against 700,000 old-style documents, but the letter states half of the new passports have problems with the digital facial image.

As of the fourth quarter, more than 4 million applications had been received for the new passports, which cost 1,000 rubles ($35). The non-biometric passports cost 500 rubles.

Romodanovsky also warned that a bill going through the lower house of parliament that would extend the duration of Russian passports from five to 10 years could further complicate the process.

The bill, which has been passed on first reading by the State Duma, envisions

Pages: [1] 2