International relations: Russia opens its first embassy in Brunei

The Russian Federation has officially opened its embassy for the first time in Brunei Darussalam with the hoisting of the Russian flag at the embassy's temporary offices at the Holiday Lodge hotel in Jerudong.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Russian Ambassador to Brunei Victor Seleznev. He announced that the embassy began its official diplomatic functions on March 3, when His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam accepted the ambassador's Letters of Credence at Istana Nurul Iman, his official residence.

Before the embassy was ratified, Brunei's relations with the Russian Federation were directed through the federation's diplomatic mission in Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia.

The new embassy is currently staffed by three diplomats and nine officials. Very soon the embassy is announced to start issue of passports and visas.

In the near future, among the services offered in the embassy will be courses to study Russian language. The embassy's Chief of Protocol Section, Olga Golovko is convinced that learning Russian will make it easier for citizens of Brunei travelling to Russia to understand and adapt to the environment.