Embassies and consulates of the countries of the former USSR in Greece. Step-by-step instructions for making an electronic appointment at the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Thessaloniki Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Greece

Any citizen who is on the territory of another state may face various administrative or legal difficulties. Often, for their timely resolution, it is worth contacting the consulate of your country. Citizens of the Russian Federation, staying in Greece, in the event of such problems, can visit the Russian consulate in Athens. Persons without Russian citizenship who wish to obtain a visa to Russia must apply to a Russian consulate or visa center.

Where is the Russian consulate in Athens located?

The consular department is located directly in the city:

• Athens, 154 52, Chalandri, Tzavela street, building 5.
• Phone: 210-671-19-45.

You can also call phones with answering machines:

• 210-674-97-08,
• 210-671-19-06,
• 210-671-19-35.

You can write:

• to the email address: [email protected]
• or by postal address: Athens, 154 52, Paleo Psychiko, street. Nikiforu Litra, house 28.

The consular department works:

• 8:30 am to 1:30 pm, Monday to Friday.
• You can draw up documents by submitting an application from 8:30 to 13:00.
• Weekends: January 1-7, February 23, March 8, May 1, May 9, June 12 and November 4. If holidays fall on weekends, the following working days become days off.

Russian Consulate in Athens on the map

How to get to the Russian consulate in Athens?

Depending on where you are coming from, the route may vary. For example, to get from the airport, you need to get to Pendelis station (the fifth station in a row), then take bus 451A or 451B, which goes in the direction of Halandri.

When you reach the Halandri Square stop (it takes about ten minutes to go), you need to change to trolleybus 10 or 18 (their final stops are next to the bus). And from there - on the street. Tzavella, where the consulate is located.

Read also: How to buy property in Athens - recommendations, legal nuances and prices

For what questions can I contact the Russian consulate in Athens?

You can contact the Russian Consulate in Athens to resolve visa issues, register consular registration, issue foreign passports, register acts of civil status, perform notarial actions, resolve issues of citizenship, under the resettlement program and others.

It is impossible to issue a visa for a citizen of the Russian Federation holding Russian citizenship at the Russian consulate! For individuals, it is possible to apply for a visa by appointment only. The Consular Section also accepts documents from the Greek Foreign Ministry for officially authorized delegations. Travel agencies and legal entities can apply for a visa only through the Visa Application Center, which is also located in Athens, at 42 Ethnikis Antistaseos Street.

The Visa Application Center was created to provide citizens of other countries and stateless people with comfortable conditions for applying for a visa that allows them to enter the territory of the Russian Federation, as well as to speed up and simplify the procedure for obtaining it. Foreign citizens have the opportunity to submit documents to the Russian consular department or diplomatic mission if they need a visa for themselves or close relatives, but this can be done only by appointment. Companies or organizations that open visas for their employees should apply to visa centers. In addition to Athens, a visa application center can be found in the city of Thessaloniki.

What do you need to have when visiting a Russian consulate?

When applying for a visa, you must have with you:

• passport (valid for at least 6 months from the date of the visa expiration, as well as with two blank pages);
• invitation or other travel document, completed and printed visa application form,
• photograph 3.5 x 4.5 cm,
• medical insurance.
• Depending on the purpose of the visit, additional documents may be required, read about this on the official website of the embassy.

The Consulate General of Russia in Thessaloniki was established by the decree of Empress Catherine II of March 31, 1783.

The main task of the consulate general was to promote the development of trade between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, as well as to protect the interests of Russian merchants in its northern Balkan part. Administratively, the Consulate General was subordinate to the Russian Embassy in Constantinople (Istanbul).

The first Russian consul general in Thessaloniki was appointed a native of the Italian region of Tuscany, Peter Alexandrovich Ferieri, who later served in Smyrna (Izmir). He was an experienced diplomat, known for his "good qualities, abilities and knowledge in trade", who had contacts with the Greek population of the Ottoman Empire, in particular, dealing with the supply of Greek ships in the Archipelago area.

In general, during the activity of the Russian Imperial Consulate General in Thessaloniki, it was alternately headed by 22 Consuls General. Taking into account the special interest of St. Petersburg in this region, which is important for the trade, economic and, accordingly, foreign policy interests of the developing Russian Empire, well-established diplomats were appointed to this position.

Along with providing consular services to the Russian community of the city and creating favorable conditions for Russian businessmen, the Consulate General paid great attention to protecting the interests of the Orthodox population of the city. This topic occupied most of the working, and not only working, time of the consulate general.

Russian hospital in Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki). Photo of the early XX century.

Another major undertaking by the consulate general was the construction of the Russian hospital named after the great martyr Dimitri of Thessaloniki, commissioned in 1910, on the territory of which the church of the same name was built - now the St. Nicholas-Dimitrievskaya church. Russian doctors annually served hundreds of residents of Thessaloniki and its suburbs for free, regardless of their nationality and religion. Most of the patients were from the Jewish community - the largest community in the city at that time.

The Russian hospital was built on a plot of land acquired for this purpose at the expense of the Russian community of the city and Russian cells from Mount Athos. The surgical room of the hospital was equipped at the expense of the personal funds of the Russian Emperor Nicholas II.

The Consul General was the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the hospital, reports on the activities of which were sent to the Russian Embassy in Constantinople.

In 1924, after the recognition of Soviet Russia by Greece, the hospital with all the equipment was transferred to the use of the Greek Red Cross to provide medical assistance to Greek refugees from Asia Minor. Then, at different times, a maternity hospital and a gymnasium were located there. It currently houses the Historical Archives of Macedonia.

Naturally, the focus of the Russian Consulate General was on the stay of Russian monks on Mount Athos, whose number reached 5,000 by the end of the 19th century.

A large and responsible work of the Consulate General to ensure the state interests of Russia was carried out during the First and Second Balkan Wars, as well as the First World War in connection with its stay on its Macedonian front in 1916-1918. Russian expeditionary corps.

The Consulate General of the Russian Empire, and then the Russian Provisional Government, ceased its work in 1917, after the October Revolution, and reopened 80 years later, in 1997 as the Consulate General of the Russian Federation.

From the speech of the Consul General of the Russian Federation in Thessaloniki Alexei Anatolyevich Popov on April 3, 2013 at a gala reception on the occasion of the 230th anniversary of the establishment of the Consulate General of Russia in Thessaloniki

The history of diplomatic relations between Greece and the Russian Empire begins in 1828, it was then that they first took shape at the official level. In 1917, due to the Bolshevik coup, diplomatic relations were interrupted and resumed only in 1924. But not everything went as smoothly as it had before. During the years of Stalinist repressions, the USSR persecuted the Greeks, the embassy could not but react to such actions. The USSR had an incomprehensible policy towards its ambassadors, in the period 1932-1941 six ambassadors of the USSR in Greece were replaced. Two were shot, three were sent to the camps, and one managed to ask for political asylum in France. In 1941, relations at all levels were completely frozen, the Greek embassy ceased its work, resumed after the Second World War and functioned until the collapse of the USSR. In 1991, Greece recognized the Russian Federation as the legal successor of the USSR, and from that time on, constant economic and political contacts were established between the two countries.

Embassy of Greece in Russia (Moscow, 125009 Leontievsky lane, 4)

Tasks of the Greek Embassy in Russia

According to its diplomatic rank, the Greek Embassy is considered the highest body officially representing its country. The mission of the institution is determined by the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Table. The main functions of the embassy.

Structure of the Greek Embassy in Russia

Find out information about functions and how to contact, from the new article -

The institution is located in a renovated building on the street. Spiridonovka, 14. The head of the embassy is Andreas Friganas, six departments work under his general supervision.

Political department

It is headed directly by an ambassador in the rank of Plenipotentiary Minister of the Second Rank. The members of the department are the Minister Counselor Despina Poulou and the first two Counselors (Dimitrios Michalopoulos and Christos Karras).

Department for the solution of trade and economic issues

The main task of the department is to protect and promote the interests of Greece in Russia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Belarus. To improve the business climate, the department provides the information it has about the economic situation in Russia to both state-owned and private Greek companies. The department is headed by the Plenipotentiary Minister for Trade and Economic Affairs Ilias Tanas, and is assisted by an adviser and a secretary.

To achieve the set goals, the department performs the following functions:

• collects data and conducts marketing research on various tenders and exhibitions;
• organizes seminars and conferences between businessmen from both countries;
• organizes business missions with specific tasks of companies by prior arrangement;
• provides legal assistance in resolving disputes between companies in Russia and Greece.

Russia and Greece - cooperation

Defense Attaché Department

A specific department that conducts its activities in a non-public sphere. He maintains close ties with the relevant ministry of the Russian Federation, coordinates the frequency of military exercises, and takes part in them as an official foreign observer. The department is headed by Colonel Christos Kaloyannis.

Press and Communications Department

He is responsible for providing information on political, cultural and economic issues. This is the main link between Greece and the Russian media. The main task is to form a positive image of the Republic among our compatriots. The department answers questions from local journalists, assists in organizing interviews with senior officials of the embassy, ​​and issues permits for journalistic activities in Greece.

Tourism department

Headed by Polikarpos Evstariu, he promotes the tourism business of companies in both countries. Gives advice to the Greek government on increasing the flow of Russian tourists, supervises the work of visa departments at the embassy.

Department of culture

The department is headed by Dimitrios Yalamas, the task of the department is to form delegations for cultural exchange between countries. The department is entrusted with an important ideological task - the creation of prerequisites for the maximum rapprochement of the peoples of the two countries.

Modern economic relations between the Russian Federation and the Hellenic Republic

In connection with the existing sanctions against the Russian Federation and the trade restrictions imposed by it, economic relations between the two countries are going through a difficult period. Despite the efforts of the Greek Embassy, ​​trade between the two countries has decreased by almost 40% in recent years. The negative trend is caused by two reasons: a ban on imports of products from the EU and the economic downturn in the Russian Federation. An additional negative factor is the significant devaluation of the Russian ruble.

At the last International Book Fair, the embassy staff presented their country's printed products, both in original and in translation, at a separate stand. The opening of the stand took place after a successful visit to Moscow by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, organized by the Greek Embassy in Russia. Immediately after the political visit, the Secretary General for International Economic Relations arrived in Russia. The outcome of a meeting of a government official with his Russian counterparts will certainly have a beneficial effect on trade relations between the countries.

Political relations

The two countries are linked by long-term friendly relations, and this is despite the current negative realities. The Greek Embassy is constantly working on the resumption of political contacts between the leaders of the two countries at all levels. The frequent visits of the leaders of both countries demonstrate their desire to forge more trusting ties, even given the current situation. The development of tourism almost does not lose momentum, inter-parliamentary ties are being resumed. The embassy proposed to award V. Putin with the medal of the Democritus University of Thrace.

And 2016 was declared the Year of Russia in Greece and the Year of Greece in Russia. During the official events, a desire was demonstrated to restore frozen contacts in the interests of the two peoples. Representatives of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Thessaloniki and Athens meet separately with their Russian partners. The Greek Exporters Association is trying to find ways to bring its interests closer together and adapt them to the existing restrictive measures taken by the Russian Federation in response to political sanctions.

On November 25, in Gelendzhik, with the assistance of the embassy, ​​the cultural center of Greece was solemnly opened, the Ambassador, Consul General and Governor personally attended the ceremony. All those entering with understanding reacted to the existing political situation and expressed confidence in its early stabilization. During the visit, the Ambassador held a number of meetings with the Chairmen of Greek organizations, local businessmen and government officials.

Societies of Greeks in the Russian Federation

Supporting Greek societies in the Russian Federation is an important area of ​​the embassy's activities. Currently, such formations are actively operating not only in Moscow, but also in Voronezh, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk and other cities of the Russian Federation. A children's matinee, a concert by the famous singer Ariadna Prokopidou, and an exhibition of the artist Anastasia Konstantinidi are planned for the New Year only in the Moscow Society of Greeks.

All members of the societies have the right to receive substantial discounts in the stores and clinics of partners, to study the Greek language for free, to become participants in meetings at various levels. Children of members of the community can travel to Greece on numerous summer programs. The patronage of the embassy over the societies allows them to significantly expand their capabilities in the field, to involve the state mass media of the Russian Federation in covering the activities.

What services does the Greek Embassy provide

Consulates general provide services directly to citizens of the Russian Federation and Greece, they are in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Novorossiysk. The embassy does not issue visas; these functions are also assigned to the consulates and service centers that are officially operating under them. The embassies issue passports and citizenship, the reception is carried out only after a personal appointment and contact numbers of the institution.

Registration of citizenship

Each applicant must bring documents for obtaining citizenship in person, all originals, except for the passport, must be stamped "Apostille".

The appearance of the apostille and the entries in it are spelled out in the 1961 Hague Convention. The text itself is of free form, but must contain the following information:

• name of the country that issued the apostille;
• position, full name of the responsible person who signed the certificate with the seal;
• the name of the city and the date when the document was drawn up;
• the number of the apostille and the name of the authority that issued it;
• the official seal of the institution that has affixed the apostille and the signature of the authorized person.

All certificates and documents issued by state institutions of the Russian Federation must have the Apostille seal. An official translation can only be done at the Consulate General of Moscow or at the translation service of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

An applicant for Greek citizenship must have such documents with him.

1. Foreign passport and a copy of its first page.
2. Internal passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation and copies of all pages on which there are records or corresponding marks. If you have children, but you need to have their birth certificates and copies. If citizenship is done on the basis of the parents' Greek roots, then you need a copy of their marriage certificate. When changing a surname, documents are required to track the actual changes.
3. Certificate of no criminal record.

After all documents have been officially translated, the applicant is given a personal questionnaire to fill out. The filling rules are indicated on the website, if necessary, advice is provided.

Issuance or renewal of Greek passports

All applicants should be aware that after the entry into force in 2006 of Law 3103/2003, passports can only be issued by the Greek Police. In this regard, the time of their receipt is significantly increased, the competence of the consulates includes only checking and accepting documents, sending them by diplomatic mail to Greece, receiving ready-made passports and issuing them to recipients.

The finished passport is handed over personally to the applicant, for this he must present any identity card and a receipt for submitting the application. The old passport is withdrawn for cancellation. If within six months the recipient does not appear to obtain a new passport, then he returns to the Passport Department of the Greek Police.

Issuance of temporary documents for return to Greece

Such a need arises in the event of loss or theft of a passport. In order to obtain a temporary document for leaving the Russian Federation to their homeland, citizens of Greece must personally write an application of the appropriate sample.

Important. To write such an application, there is no need to pre-register in the queue, persons are accepted immediately as soon as the relevant employees are released.

You should have a ticket or a copy of it with you; if a travel document has not yet been purchased, then it is enough to provide the reservation number. To confirm the fact of theft or loss, a certificate from the police department is required that the person wrote the appeal. Temporary travel documents require two color photographs of standard sizes. A travel document is issued no earlier than 48 hours before the time of departure from the Russian Federation. There is no charge for such services.

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