Finland proposes EU-wide ban on tourist visas for Russians

Finland is pushing for a ban on issuing tourist visas to Russians across the European Union. Minister Valtonen said that as long as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, such visas should not be issued.

“Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has been going on for more than four years. It is wrong that Russians can travel to Europe and enjoy its way of life and freedoms while their country bombs Ukrainians’ homes,” Valtonen said. “As long as Russia continues its invasion, Russian citizens should not be issued tourist visas,” she added.

Valtonen recalled that Finland banned issuing visas to Russians for travel that is “not strictly necessary” by government decree back in 2022. “The same must finally happen at EU level,” she concluded, according to a press release.

The Finnish ministry noted that the number of tourist visas issued to Russians by Schengen countries has grown in recent years. Last year Russians received almost half a million tourist visas, most of them in France, Italy and Spain.

In addition, an Estonian proposal for a lifetime entry ban on Russians who fought against Ukraine in the Russian army is being discussed at EU level this year. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna presented it in Brussels in January.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz