Russia–Seychelles relations
Encyclopedia
Russia–Seychelles relations is the bilateral
relations
of Russia
and Seychelles
. Diplomatic relations between Seychelles and the Soviet Union
were established on 30 June 1976, a day after the island nation gained its independence from the United Kingdom
. Russia has an embassy in Victoria
. Seychelles is represented in Russia through its embassy in Paris
(France
) and two honorary consulates (in Saint Petersburg
and Yekaterinburg
).
In February 2009, Alexander Vladimirov, Russia's Ambassador to Seychelles paid a final visit to President James Michel
and Vice-President
Joseph Belmont
at the State House
.
. The government of Seychellois President France-Albert René
supported the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
In 1987 The Sunday Times
, quoting unnamed US intelligence officers, reported that the Soviet Union had landed 50 naval infantry troops in the Seychelles after making landfall on the Ivan Rogov in October 1986; a month after a foiled assassination attempt on René.
between Russia and the Seychelles in 2008 reached a total of US$6.23 million. Russia exported some US$4.54 million worth of goods and services to the Seychelles, including mineral oil
s, machinery and equipment. The Seychelles exports to Russia totalled US$1.69 million made up of fish, seafood and spices.
In 1999 an agreement on co-operation in the field of tourism
was concluded between the two nations, and in 2008 some 6,400 Russian tourists visited the Seychelles. Burgeoning Russian tourism to the Seychelles led the Seychellois national airline Air Seychelles
to launch a weekly flight to Moscow's
Vnukovo International Airport
in March 2009, with the expectation of the addition of another weekly flight once its presence in the Russian market has been consolidated.
Bilateralism
Bilateralism consists of the political, economic, or cultural relations between two sovereign states. For example, free trade agreements signed by two states are examples of bilateral treaties. It is in contrast to unilateralism or multilateralism, which refers to the conduct of diplomacy by a...
relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
. Diplomatic relations between Seychelles and the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
were established on 30 June 1976, a day after the island nation gained its independence from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Russia has an embassy in Victoria
Victoria, Seychelles
Victoria is the capital city of the Seychelles and is situated on the north-eastern side of Mahé island, which is the main island of the archipelago. The city was first established as the seat of the British colonial government...
. Seychelles is represented in Russia through its embassy in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) and two honorary consulates (in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
and Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg is a major city in the central part of Russia, the administrative center of Sverdlovsk Oblast. Situated on the eastern side of the Ural mountain range, it is the main industrial and cultural center of the Urals Federal District with a population of 1,350,136 , making it Russia's...
).
In February 2009, Alexander Vladimirov, Russia's Ambassador to Seychelles paid a final visit to President James Michel
James Michel
Colonel James Alix Michel is a Seychellois politician who has been President of Seychelles since April 16, 2004. He previously served as Vice-President under his predecessor, France-Albert René, from 1996 to 2004...
and Vice-President
Vice President of Seychelles
The Vice President of Seychelles is the second highest position in the Seychelles. The position was created in 1996.-Vice Presidents of Seychelles :-Affiliations:...
Joseph Belmont
Joseph Belmont
Joseph Belmont is a Seychellois politician who was the Vice President of the Seychelles from 16 April 2004 until his retirement on 30 June 2010. He took office after President France-Albert René stepped down and the previous Vice-President, James Michel, replaced René as President...
at the State House
State House (Seychelles)
State House is the official residence of the President of the Seychelles.The State House was designed and built in 1910, when Seychelles was still a British colony. Then known as the "Government House", it was the residence of the Governor General, beginning with Sir Walter Davidson in 1912...
.
Soviet-era relations
On 15 February 1980, the Soviet Union and Seychelles signed the Agreement on merchant navigation in VictoriaVictoria, Seychelles
Victoria is the capital city of the Seychelles and is situated on the north-eastern side of Mahé island, which is the main island of the archipelago. The city was first established as the seat of the British colonial government...
. The government of Seychellois President France-Albert René
France-Albert René
France-Albert René was the long-time socialist President of Seychelles from 1977 to 2004. He is known by government officials and party members as "the Boss". His name is often given as simply Albert René or F.A...
supported the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
In 1987 The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
, quoting unnamed US intelligence officers, reported that the Soviet Union had landed 50 naval infantry troops in the Seychelles after making landfall on the Ivan Rogov in October 1986; a month after a foiled assassination attempt on René.
Economic relations
Bilateral tradeBilateral trade
Bilateral trade or clearing trade is trade exclusively between two states, particularly, barter trade based on bilateral deals between governments, and without using hard currency for payment...
between Russia and the Seychelles in 2008 reached a total of US$6.23 million. Russia exported some US$4.54 million worth of goods and services to the Seychelles, including mineral oil
Mineral oil
A mineral oil is any of various colorless, odorless, light mixtures of alkanes in the C15 to C40 range from a non-vegetable source, particularly a distillate of petroleum....
s, machinery and equipment. The Seychelles exports to Russia totalled US$1.69 million made up of fish, seafood and spices.
In 1999 an agreement on co-operation in the field of tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
was concluded between the two nations, and in 2008 some 6,400 Russian tourists visited the Seychelles. Burgeoning Russian tourism to the Seychelles led the Seychellois national airline Air Seychelles
Air Seychelles
Air Seychelles is the national airline of the Seychelles, with its head office on the property of Seychelles International Airport on the island of Mahé. It operates inter-island services and international flights...
to launch a weekly flight to Moscow's
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
Vnukovo International Airport
Vnukovo International Airport
Vnukovo International Airport , is a dual runway international airport located southwest from the centre of Moscow, Russia. It is one of three major airports serving Moscow...
in March 2009, with the expectation of the addition of another weekly flight once its presence in the Russian market has been consolidated.