The Government is to take comprehensive measures to implement plans for the overall development of the Murmansk Transport Hub and to ensure the launch of construction at Pionersky Terminal in Kaliningrad Region for cruise, passenger and cargo vessels in 2017.
The Government is to stipulate additional allocations in the draft federal budget for 2018 and the planning period of 2019–2020 to finance the upgrade and use of state border checkpoints and the construction (to be completed by 2020) and use of three train ferries for the Ust-Luga – Baltiysk ferry line. The Government is also to approve an action plan for the transition as of January 1, 2018, to payment in Russian rubles for seaport services provided at Russian ports and to stipulate the appropriate amendments to legislation.
Other instructions for the Government concern passenger flights to Kaliningrad Region; the use of revenue from the lease of state-owned seaport infrastructure as well as of the investment port duty for upgrading Russia’s seaport infrastructure; computer-based pricing of economy-class seats in airplanes; and completion of infrastructure modernisation at the airports of Arkhangelsk, Murmansk and Solovki.
The Government is also to consider the possibility of granting foreign citizens on organised travel tours, including groups that transit across Russia for joining a cruise, as well as foreign citizens among the crews and passengers of sports sailing vessels and recreational craft, the right to visa-free entry into Russia (for up to 72 hours) or to entry into Russia via Kaliningrad Airport or the ports of Kaliningrad Region with electronic visas. The Government will also consider granting foreign airlines the right to land at Kaliningrad Airport within the framework of the fifth freedom of the air after March 1, 2018.
Separate instructions have been issued to the Government of the Russian Federation jointly with Kaliningrad Region Government; and the Transport Ministry jointly with the Pskov Region Administration and Kaliningrad Region Government with the involvement of Russian Railways.