Hereby we would like to let you know that Federal Migration Service of Russia has penalized bands that performed in Moscow on the 9th of March 2012 at ?Disco of the 90s? show. Among others there were such bands as Snap, East-17, La Bouche, Culture Beat. Artists and singers didn?t have work permits to work in Russia and had only tourists visas. Penalties were from 80 up to 160 USD. Organizers were penalized for 25.000 USD.

This precedent makes it clear now that the position of FMS is that the main criteria is the type of activity that will be conducted in Russia and not the period of time foreign national stays in Russia. Before that there were no such penalties and the position of FMS was not concrete.

This creates a big problem as Russian immigration legislation doesn?t stipulate for a special visa for such category of foreign nationals as artists and singers and they will have to either obtain a standard work permit for 1 year which takes 3 months to obtain and requires quota or Highly Qualified Specialist work permit for 3 years. It also raises some tax issues as well.

Please also see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPr5dtEDXJk