Non -traveling "Russian peace". More than ten countries of the West are no longer released by Russians: can the EU refuse to issue visas to Russian citizens

He expressed this opinion in an interview with The Washington Post, which was published on August 8. Zelensky noted that "the most important sanctions are the closure of the borders, because the Russians are picking up another's land. " “Then they will understand. They say, “This war has nothing to do with us. The whole population cannot be responsible, isn't it? Maybe! The population has chosen this government and does not fight it, does not argue with it, does not shout at it.

Don't you want this isolation? You say to the world that it has to live according to your rules. Then go and live there [in the Russian Federation]. This is the only way to influence Putin, ”Zelensky said. HB reminds which countries no longer release Russians or restricted entry for them, and whether such a decision can be extended to the entire EU.

Lithuania suspended the issuance of Schengen visas to Russian citizens on February 24, 2022 - on the first day when the Russian Federation began a full -scale war against Ukraine. "As a sign of solidarity with the people of Ukraine, which collided with the military aggression of Russia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania stops issuing visas to citizens of the Russian Federation," the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry explained.

The exception is only for members of spouses and minor children of EU citizens, as well as citizens of Lithuanian origin and those who are allowed to restore Lithuanian citizenship. Latvia ceased to give the Russians tourist visas shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, the Russians could still receive short -term humanitarian visas or long -term national visas with the right of employment.

However, on August 4, the Latvia Embassy in the Russian Federation reported that the country has suspended the issuance of any visa to citizens of Russia. Receiving applications for visas for Russian citizens is now suspended "indefinitely". The only exception may be the need to travel to the funeral of a close relative.

According to Delfi, from the beginning of the invasion and until the beginning of August, Latvia issued a visa to 247 employees of Russian independent media (or international media working in the Russian Federation) and 206 members of their families. This list included employees of BBC, Deutsche Welle, Radio Liberty, sites of infusion of time and jellyfish, publication of a new newspaper. Europe, TV channel Rain.

In addition, during this time, another 654 visas were given to the Russians due to illness or funeral of a relative in Latvia, as well as members of families of Latvia and EU citizens. Thus, since February 25, 2022, 1107 visas were issued in the Russian representative offices of Latvia. Estonia is one of the countries that have decided on the most rigid visa measures for Russians.

Back in March, shortly after Russia, the country actually stopped the issuance of tourist visas to citizens of the Russian Federation. The opportunity for entry was left only to those who have relatives in Estonia, as well as Russians who go to Estonia "for humanitarian reasons" or for medical purposes. At the end of July, the Estonia government decided to strengthen these measures even more.

Now Russians (like citizens of Belarus) can no longer apply for student visas or receiving a temporary residence permit in Estonia. Moreover, the official Tallini closed the "Lopovka" that the Russians still used, entering the EU through other countries, and then demanding permission to work in Estonia. Now, Russians can only apply for short -term employment in Estonia if they already have a valid Estonian visa.

"This innovation we will put an end to the situation where a short-term Schengen visa is asked, for example, for tourism, from another Member State to bypass the current sanction," said Estonia Minister Urmas Rainsal. - Preservation of sanctions against Russia is required for relentless pressure on the Russian Federation. If sanctions help stop Russian aggression, it will have a positive effect on our safety, ”he added.

On August 4, after his visit to Kiev, the Foreign Minister of Estonia also suggested that the European Union be a ban on the issue of Schengen visas to all Russians. "We need to raise the price of Russian aggression through additional sanctions, weapons and more isolation of Russia," Urmas Rinsal said Bloomberg. On August 3, he discussed this topic with President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky.

On February 24, 2022, the Czech Republic suspended visas to Russian citizens, and withdrew permits to the consulates of the Russian Federation in Karlovy Vary and Brno and temporarily closed its consular institutions in St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg. From the end of June, the Czech Republic has announced that there would be no ordinary visas or temporary residence permits to the Russians and Belarusians at least by the end of March 2023. The exception is humanitarian visas.

In addition, the decision will not affect the citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus, who already have permission to reside in the Czech Republic and want to continue it, as well as members of the families of foreigners with a residence permit in the Czech Republic. The Czech government has stated that such a step is intended to protect the interests and ensure the security of the Czech Republic.

Official Prague hopes to continue the pressure on the Russian Federation and Belarus, which are leading the war against Ukraine. From July 1, Belgium has temporarily stopped issuing visas to the Russians - also indefinitely. Belgian visa centers now issue Russian citizens only student visas, long -term visas for researchers and scientists, visas for family reunification.

Since mid -May, the Embassy of Denmark in Moscow suspended "before the further notification" of receiving applications for visas and residence permits in Denmark - except for visits for official visits. From March, Malta has stopped publishing "gold" passports for Russians and Belarusians, which were guaranteed in the event of great investment in the country. The ordinary Schengen visas to the Russians Malta are also not published.

Only the Russians - members of the EU citizens/EEZs (spouses and children under 21) - if they live in Malta; As well as Malta citizens who have dual citizenship if their Malta passport is over, but they need to return. Education, work, reunification with citizens of the Russian Federation, Malta, third countries and other goals are not an automatic reason for issuing a visa to the Russians - Malta considers such applications individually and allows entry only "in exceptional cases".

From the end of April, the Consulate of the Netherlands in Russia has suspended the issuance of short -term, including tourist visas. Citizens of the Russian Federation in their country can now receive only humanitarian visas and temporary residence permits in the Netherlands. (The grounds for him may be training, employment in the country, family relations with the resident of the Netherlands or doing business there). Slovakia seriously limited the issuance of visas to the Russians.

Only representatives of individual specialties who apply for work in the country (doctors, rural workers, transport workers, watch workers, diplomats and high -skilled workers, whose arrival are economically needed) can now see them. Other citizens of the Russian Federation can count on entering Slovakia only in individual cases of extreme need.

Norway did not formally prohibit the issuance of visas to the Russians, although she suspended the reception of applications and officially restored it in April 2022. The Russians now warn that this possibility has been restored only in a limited format, and the terms of consideration of applications have increased and can take up to 45 days. In addition, Norway now checks the documents of the Russians more carefully.

Norwegian immigration management has warned that it considers the higher risks of Russian emigration to the country, so it will be more careful to consider applications for all major visas - for businessmen, tourists and for visiting relatives. In particular, the protocol of processing of documents of persons whose friends or relatives live in Norway - applications from them will probably be rejected, even if they invite tourist visas.

“The decision is based on the probability that the applicant will return to his country after a visit to Norway. When assessing the emigration potential from Russia, we have made an overall assessment of political, economic and social conditions in Russia, ”said NRK, NRK's ​​NRK, NRK, NRK's ​​NRK. Finland has not yet introduced a prohibition on visas for Russian citizens, but intends to seek such a decision at the level of the entire EU, said Prime Minister Sanna Marin on August 8.

She called "unfair" the fact that "Russians can live as if it had nothing and go to Europe as tourists" against the background of war against Ukraine. According to the Finnish Prime Minister, the European Council could consider imposing sanctions on Russian tourism, and the official Helsinki is ready to support such a decision. Sanna Marin also added that Finland can decide on a similar step to many other countries - at least slowing down the issuance of documents.

“It is clear that the Russians use Finland as a transshipment point, through us go to other countries for rest. We are discussing this issue in the government and the discussion will continue, - said the Prime Minister of Finland. - We do not have our own sanction legislation that would limit such actions by Russian tourists. There may be other ways, such as we can slow down visas. That is, actually restrict entry, although it would be open formally.

" The head of the ruling in Finland of the Social Democratic Party of Anti Lindtman predicts that the government will be able to quickly consider the termination of visa issuance to Russian tourists. Such restrictions are expected to apply to medical treatment; persons who own real estate in Finland; as well as visiting close relatives.

On August 5, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia reported that Bulgaria allegedly stopped indefinitely to the Russian tourist visas and visas for the real estate owners. It was argued that the reason for this decision was the expulsion of 14 Bulgarian diplomats from Russia. Bulgaria previously sent 70 Russian diplomats suspected of espionage.

However, on August 6, the Russian TASS Russian Agency, citing the Bulgaria Embassy in Moscow, reported that it was only about increasing the timing of the Russian applications, not restrictions on visa issuing. “The consulate at the Embassy is working, and the issuance of tourist visas to Russian citizens has not stopped. At the moment, for technical reasons, we are not working as usual, the terms of providing services are longer than usual, but we work, ”the Bulgarian Embassy reported.

According to the agency's interlocutor, the issuance of visas for real estate owners was also not stopped. This information was also confirmed by the Bulgarian diplomatic mission. In the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Japan suspended the issuance of tourist visas to the Russians. However, since June 10, they were allowed to enter sleep, but only as part of organized tourist groups and with a corresponding guarantee from the Japanese tourist company.

Russians can still not travel to Japan on their own. Many countries of the world in the first months of the invasion of the Russian Federation abolished for the Russians the right to claim so -called "gold visas" or "gold passports", which previously issued Russian citizens in exchange for significant investments (usually from 250 000 - 500 000 euros).

Now this option has been closed to the Russians: similar calls for joint actions have already been voiced by several EU countries, including Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Poland. Thus, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Rinsal stated that he was presenting a plan of pan -European restrictions for Russians at the end of August at a meeting with foreign ministers of other countries in Prague.

"It is necessary to introduce the basic rule of closing entry for Russian citizens to Europe, Estonia will make this proposal," - said Rinsal, insisting on the need to stop the issuance of tourist visas to citizens of the Russian Federation and "stop shaking [Russians] across the border. " According to the Estonian diplomat, the issuance of such permits "unthinkable in wartime".

On August 9, his position was supported by the Prime Minister of Estonia Kaya Callas, who voiced a sharp statement on Twitter. “Visiting Europe is a privilege, not human right. It is time to stop tourism from Russia now, ”Callas called. A similar proposal to the EU has repeatedly repeated the Foreign Minister of Latvia Edgar Rinkevich in the last five months, demanding to ban tourist visas for Russian citizens.

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Moravetsky called on "decisive sanctions on Russian society" in April and prohibit the issuance of any visas except humanitarian visas to the Russians. According to Moravetsky, it is necessary to apply for a visa only to those citizens of the Russian Federation who intend to leave Russia. "Not only he [Putin] is responsible [for the war] - everyone is responsible: both those who support Putin," Moravetsky said.

The Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin also supports the idea of ​​canceling tourist visas for Russian citizens and in this context insists that "the most important decisions should be made in the EU together. " At the end of July, the Finnish newspaper Sanomat appealed to the European Commission on the possibility of a pan -European ban on the issue of tourist visas to the Russians at the end of July.

The publication comments from the European Commission, according to which "the right to review and make decisions on applications for a short-term Schengen visa belongs to Member States who have to make decisions on each statement individually. " The European Commission's press service also clarified that the EU visa rules allegedly did not allow the Russian visas completely.

"There are always groups of people who should be issued visas: these are humanitarian cases, members of the EU Family], journalists and dissidents," the commission said at the request of the Finnish edition. At the same time, representatives of the European Commission refused to inform whether the issue of prohibiting visas to the Russians in the process of discussing new packages of sanctions against Russia was raised.

They also reminded that on February 25, the European Council took measures to partially suspend the simplification of visa issuance with Russia. Diplomats, Russian officials and businessmen from the Russian Federation can no longer use the provisions for simplification of visa regime (relating to a set of documents provided and payment for visa).

Presidential President Dmitry Peskov, commenting on the idea of ​​Vladimir Zelensky about the complete closure of the West for the Russians, tried to convince the audience in the Russian Federation that such isolation of Russia is allegedly impossible. “This can only be treated with extremely negative. Any attempt to isolate Russians or Russia is a process that has no prospects. "The souls" are not very good in such initiatives, if not to say more, "Peskov said.

However, the Russian Foreign Ministry recognizes that in the near future, Europe can stop publishing Schengen visas collectively. Moscow traditionally accuses Western countries of Russophobia and hopes that in this case, Russian citizens will be able to claim national visas of individual EU countries.