Volodin noted that foreigners from countries where Russian is not an official language will not be able to have their driver's licenses recognized. They will have to take exams on traffic rules to obtain Russian licenses. "We cannot accept their licenses," he emphasized.
In addition, the Chairman of the State Duma pointed out that knowledge of the Russian language is an important condition for the recognition of foreign driver's licenses. He added that those coming to Russia for work must respect the laws, culture, and traditions of the country. "We are not infringing on anyone, we are simply protecting our sovereignty," Volodin noted.
According to current legislation, foreign driver's licenses can be recognized in Russia provided they are translated into Russian and notarized. According to paragraph 12 of Article 25 of Federal Law 196-FZ, foreigners are required to pass exams and obtain Russian licenses for legal employment, for example, as taxi drivers. Exceptions are made for citizens of Abkhazia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and South Ossetia, where Russian also has official status.
