Hi Svetlana , Well it certainly is a bit of strange behaviour.But in another forum, I read , that it is a bit more easier now , to get a visa for Russia.The downside is , that it can be about 2 or 3 months , before you will actually have your passport back , from the Russian embassy.Maybe this is not true , but that is what I read somewehere else. It can be a bit faster , when you will get a personal invitation from someone , who lives in Russia.Or , when you cannot stay at this person`s address , that this person will make for you a hotel reservation.I don`t really know , if this is all true. I have not been to Russia , but maybe in the future I will go there. So , you may ask yourself ,can you wait for your passport for about 2 or 3 months ??Maybe at the Russian embassys , things are a bit better now and faster. It is of course a pity , that he gave no further explanation. I wish you all the best Eric