Russian–Maldivian relations

as of JULY 2019

Russian-Maldivian Relations

The diplomatic relations between the USSR and the Republic of Maldives were established on September 14, 1966. The Maldives officially recognized the Russian Federation as the successor state to the USSR on December 31, 1991. Male supported the accession of Moscow to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation as an observer in 2003.

The Protocol on political consultations (between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs) was signed in March 2004. In September 2011 on the sidelines of the 66th UN GA in New York Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Mr. M.Bogdanov had a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives H.E. Mr. A.Naseem.

On 24-26 June, 2019 Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid paid a working visit to Moscow and met Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation H.E. Mr. Sergey Lavrov. During the negotiations the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Maldives on Mutual Exemption of Visa Requirements for Nationals of the Russian Federation and Nationals of the Republic of Maldives was signed (entered into force on July 25, 2019). 

On June 18-21 June, 2019 Minister of Defence of the Republic of Maldives H.E. Ms. Mariyam Ahmed Didi visited Russia to participate in X International Meeting of High Level Officials Responsible for Security Matters, which took place in Ufa, Russia. On the sidelines of the event she had a meeting with Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Mr. Nikolai Patrushev. On June 21, 2019 H.E. Ms. Mariyam Ahmed Didi had negotiations with Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation H.E. Mr. Sergey Shoigu. 

Russia and the Maldives have established inter-parliamentary contacts. The delegation of the State Duma of the Federal Council of the Russian Federation headed by first deputy chair of committee on culture Mr. A.Tyagunov visited the Maldives in 2007. The delegation had meetings with Speaker of the People’s Majlis of the Republic of Maldives H.E. Mr A.Zahir and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives H.E Mr. A.Shaheed. In October 2017 Speaker of the People’s Majlis of the Republic of Maldives H.E. Mr. A.M.Mohamed visited Russia to participate in the 137th  Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, which took place in Saint Petersburg. In July 2019 Member of Parliament Ms. Rozaina Adam took part in the Second International Forum “Development of Parliamentarism” in Moscow.

Moscow and Male are developing cooperation in the field of law enforcement. The Agreement on cooperation between the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation and the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Maldives was signed on November 6, 2014 during the official visit of Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation Mr. Y.Chayka to Male. In March 2015 Prosecutor General of the Republic of Maldives Mr. M.Muhsin paid a reciprocal visit to Russia.

The trade turnover between Russia and the Republic of Maldives amounted to 3.347 million US dollars in 2018 (Russian export – 3.321 million US dollars, import – 26 thousand US dollars). In comparison with 2017 (trade turnover - 480 thousand US dollars) the value of bilateral trade has risen significantly. 

The Air Transport Agreement between Russia and the Maldives was signed in June 1995. Since October 2010 PJSC Aeroflot – Russian Airlines conducts regular flights on the route Moscow – Male (five times per week).

According to the Federal Agency for Tourism 38 thousand Russian citizens visited the Maldives in 2018.

Since 1970s of the XX century the Russian Side has been assisting the Maldives in training of its specialists. Around 50 Maldivian citizens received their education in Russian universities, some of them hold decision-making positions in state bodies of the Republic of Maldives. 1 Russian Government scholarship was provided for the citizens of the Maldives for 2017-2018 academic year.

In February 2019 the Government of the Republic of Maldives took a principal decision to establish the Embassy of the Maldives in Russia.

Since 2000 Mr. A.Didi has been the Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation in the Maldives.

There is no Russian Embassy at the territory of the Republic of Maldives. The interests of Russia are represented by Ambassador of Russia to Sri Lanka and concurrently to the Republic of Maldives H.E. Mr. Y.Materiy who resides in Colombo (Sri Lanka) at the following address: 404, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07. Tel. +94112697036, fax +94112678401, e-mail: srilanka@mid.com, web-site: https://sri-lanka.mid.ru/en/