Finns increasingly use forged HIV certificates in applications for Russian visas
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Finnish travel agencies and the Russian Embassy in Finland has made note of the increasing use of forged documents certifying that applicants for visas to Russia are not infected with HIV.
Finns applying for a six-month or one year multiple entry visa to Russia are required to submit a certificate indicating that they are not HIV positive. About 30,000 such applications are submitted each year.
Aleksandr Oreshenkov, the head of the consular section of the Russian Embassy in Helsinki, says that he is aware of the forgery problem. He notes that it is impossible to know how many forgeries come to the section.
"A forgery can be determined only by a local official, and we do not usually ask the Finnish police for assistance. However, we investigate each certificate ourselves, and if it appears suspicious, we can ask the applicant to provide a new certificate."
Employees at a travel agency arranging long-term visas have noticed that many customers turn away when asked for an HIV certificate.
"They know places where visas are available without a certificate. Unfortunately, there are these kinds of loopholes in travel to Russia", says the head of one such travel agency.
Peter Holst, the head of Lähialuematkat, the largest travel agency in Finland specialising in travel to Russia, says that he has heard from his customers about shady characters and visa brokers, who do not require certificates.
"When a visa agent does not ask for an HIV certificate, but the consulate insists on it, there are few options that remain open", Holst calculates.
The Tampere-based European Travel Service Company encountered an unexpected visa problem this past autumn. The company normally deals with its customers’ visa matters, but a few months ago, it started to use an agent.
"The consulate refused to grant visas through this go-between, because it suspected that the company had previously sent them forged HIV certificates", says Mikko Koistinen of European Travel Service.
The agent does not want to disclose the name, but says that the forged certificates were brought by the customers.
Another agent says that the forging of certificates is not their problem.
"If there is a forgery, it is the customer’s responsibility and the customer’s headache."
Forging an official document is punishable by fines or up to four years in prison under Finnish law.
Travel agencies have noticed that many Finns feel that being tested for HIV is cumbersome, and they prefer to avoid it.
To avert the problem, a traveller will sometimes use a visa agent to acquire the desired test result.
"In South Karelia, there are visas for sale just about everywhere. They are sold in kiosks, and probably in homes as well", says Kirsti Laine, head of the Saimaan Matkaverkko travel agency.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 12.12.2005 - TODAY |
 Finns increasingly use forged HIV certificates in applications for Russian visas
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