People who regularly visit Spain know that in the event of any incident with them, they must urgently contact the Russian Embassy in Madrid or the Consulate in Barcelona. Here they will help in a difficult life situation, give valuable advice. You will know that you are not alone, as one of the duties of the embassy is to be the guarantor of the rights of Russian citizens.
Historical background
With the Soviet Union (not to be confused with the Russian Empire), Spain did not have diplomatic relations for a long time. They were installed only in 1933. After General Franco came to power and a civil war broke out in Spain, diplomatic relations were again severed. This happened in 1939. The death of Franco led to the fact that relations began to improve, and in 1977 an exchange of credentials took place.
An interesting fact: despite the three-hundred-year history of relations between the Russian state, later the Soviet Union,and Spain, embassies, missions, diplomatic missions did not have their own building in the capital, all premises were rented. Only after the restoration of relations did the issue begin to be resolved. Almost in the center of Madrid, the Soviet Union acquired a territory measuring 1.35 hectares. The construction of the USSR Embassy in Spain began.
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs A. A. Gromyko entrusted the development of the project of the building to the artist I. Glazunov, the architectural solution was to be provided by the Soviet architect A. Polikarpov. A complex of snow-white buildings was built, which included many objects. Construction was accompanied by certain difficulties and lasted 6 years. This was the last diplomatic mission of the Soviet state, since the facility went into operation in 1991.
The complex includes administrative, representative buildings, as well as accommodation for staff families. All this is one building. The consular department is housed in a detached house. The territory of the embassy also has a number of other facilities necessary for the normal life of employees, including a swimming pool, playgrounds for children and sports. Particular attention was paid to the representative department, whose building faces the street, inside its interior is decorated with murals made by the artist I. Glazunov.
The main tasks of the embassy
The Russian Embassy in Spain, like any other, performs many tasks, the main of which is maintaining official relations between countries. They don't work hereonly diplomats, but also employees of other speci alties. The issues of Russian citizens staying in Spain are handled by the consular department, and it also works with Spanish citizens wishing to visit Russia.
The main function of the consular department, which is part of the Russian Embassy in Spain (Madrid), is to resolve any issues and problems of citizens provided for by the existing legislation. This is the execution of documents (notarized copies, passports, certificates), the issuance of visas to enter Russia for foreign citizens, as well as emergency assistance in case of loss of documents, a threat to he alth and life of Russian citizens.
Consulate and its tasks
Just do not confuse the consular department with the consulate, which deals exclusively with interaction with local authorities, as well as citizens' appeals on visas, passports, certificates, notarized copies and so on. In a city where there is an embassy, there is no consulate. It is created in another city in agreement with the government and solely for the purpose of simplifying the circulation of citizens. The embassy deals with foreign policy issues, relations between countries, work with citizens is only part of its functions. The Russian Embassy in Spain is located in Madrid, and the Russian Consulate General is in Barcelona.
When to apply
The embassy has a special hotline where you can call the embassy or consulate. Russian citizens can contact the Russian Embassy in Spain in an emergencyin case of loss of documents, for this you must first contact the police and write a statement, take a certificate and bring it to the embassy, where temporary documents will be issued with which you can fly on direct flights to Russia. You can also call if there is a threat to life or he alth.
Russian school in Spain
Specially for the children of civil servants who have been working in Madrid for a long time, a Russian school has been created at the Russian Embassy in Spain. After its completion, a certificate of the established form is issued. The school is taught by teachers specially seconded from Russia. It was originally organized in 1977 and was an elementary school, since 2008 it has been a secondary school. It has 11 small classrooms, with an average of 6 students per class.
Interestingly, the school has two ways of learning: full-time and part-time, created for children living in other cities in Spain. When choosing a distance learning method, the guys attend school to pass tests only 3 times a year. For the children of civil servants, education is free, for those permanently residing and working in private companies in Spain, education is paid and will be 250-350 euros per month.
The school is taught according to Russian programs, as in Russia, English is a major language, Spanish is studied only as an elective. With a certificate issued by a school in Madrid, you can apply to any higher school in Russia.
