NOVO-OGARYOVO (Sputnik) — The secretary's remarks come after Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with the Security Council earlier on Thursday.
The Russian presidency's Security Council deals with issues of national security and prepares presidential decisions on security matters. Thursday's meeting focused on issues of improving Russia's migration policy in the interests of national security.
"If we are to further develop a visa-free regime, then we may need reciprocity. So if our partner is ready for consideration and implementation, then we should go ahead with it. If not, then I do not think we should unilaterally ease the visa regime," Patrushev told reporters.
Russia's visa regime is currently sufficiently lenient, he added, citing over 100 intergovernmental agreements on visa regime liberalization concluded by the Russian government with its foreign partners.
