In the first summit between the two countries in history… Putin meets the President of Seychelles at the Kremlin

Middle East News Network: Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks today at the Kremlin with the President of the Republic of Seychelles, Patrick Herminie, who arrived in Russia on a working visit. The discussions addressed the development of bilateral cooperation as well as international and regional issues.
Putin described the volume of trade and economic relations between Russia and Seychelles as “modest,” adding: “However, there is much that can be achieved, and in this context, your visit to Moscow comes at the right time.”
He also pointed to the increasing flow of Russian tourists to Seychelles and the prospects for further growth.
For his part, Herminie highlighted the role of the Russian airline Aeroflot in maintaining the flow of tourists despite the crisis related to the Iran war.
The President of Seychelles also expressed his country’s gratitude to Russia for its assistance in overcoming the negative repercussions of the Iranian war.
Putin invited his Seychellois counterpart to participate in the third edition of the “Russia–Africa” forum, which is currently being prepared.
The Kremlin stated that Russia intends to send 15 tons of food products to Seychelles as humanitarian aid by the end of April. It also noted that a Seychelles embassy is scheduled to open in Moscow this year.
The meeting between Putin and Herminie marks the first summit in the history of bilateral relations between Russia and Seychelles. This is Herminie’s second visit to Russia, having previously visited Moscow in 2014 in his capacity as Speaker of Parliament.
The Soviet Union was among the first countries to recognize Seychelles’ independence in 1976, and diplomatic relations between the two nations were established on June 30 of that year.
Tourism remains a key pillar of economic relations between the two countries. Since 2015, Russian tourists have been able to visit Seychelles visa-free for up to 30 days. In 2024, approximately 35,000 Russian tourists visited the republic.
According to the Russian Federal Customs Service, the volume of trade between Russia and Seychelles amounted to $3.3 million in 2021.
There is also cooperation in the humanitarian field, as Seychellois citizens can study at Russian universities with government funding, and short-term rehabilitation programs for police and security personnel from Seychelles are organized in Russia.
Source: Agencies