While Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to threaten Europe, first with gas and then with wheat, Europe too raises the bar on sanctions. Lithuania, Latvia ed Estonia they reached an agreement to block entry visas for fake tourists arriving from Russia. Entries which, taking advantage of a Schengen visa, made it possible to circumvent the block on flights between Russia and Europe included in the sanctions already launched by the EU following the invasion of Ukraine. The ban will be in effect by mid-September, after the formal approval of the three national governments allo stop visas for Russians. This was announced by the Foreign Minister of Latvia.
“Over the past two weeks and months, border crossings by Russian citizens holding a Schengen visa have increased dramatically. This is becoming a public safety issue, but also a moral and political one,” Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics told a news conference.
Russian visas, Baltic countries call for total ban from EU
After resetting the issuing of tourist permits, in force since August 18, Estonia prohibits entry even to those who have a valid one. “Visiting Europe is a privilege, not a human right – Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas wrote a month ago -. While the countries of the Schengen area issue visas, it is Russia's neighbors who bear the burden”.
But without a common policy it becomes impossible to create restrizioni effective, given that Russian citizens could turn to any European country and continue to use the Baltic countries to access the Schengen area. This is why he is asking for intervention from Brussels, even if the proposal has met with several no's, the first from German Chancellor Scholz: "It is Putin's war, ineffective sanctions if they invest those who are not at fault".
The proposal, often loudly requested by the Member States of the European Union which share a portion of their borders with Russia (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), could prevent Russian tourists from entering their countries even if the EU decides to do not emanate a European ban.
Exceptions for issuing tourist permits to Russians
The countries will reject all Russian citizens holding a visa to enter the EU's Schengen open border area. They will be done exceptions for humanitarian and family reasons, truck drivers and diplomats.
The hard line of the Baltic countries towards the Kremlin is nothing new, as the memory of Soviet control over these territories is still strong in the collective memory.
