According to the press service of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Russia, the border controls were removed on September 22 after an agreement was signed by Russia’s state secretary and deputy foreign minister, Mr Grigory Karasin, and the Kazakhstan ambassador for Russia, Mr Imangali Tasmagambetov.

Tasmagambetov says easing restrictions is designed to stimulate the development of business and tourism in the area, and improve relations between the border regions of both countries.