European Union Closing Ranks on Russian Travel Visas
"We have to admit that Russian society, by and large also bears passive moral responsibility for these atrocities, which take place on Ukrainian soil.""The legal responsibility is on Putin, his inner circle and these executioners of genocide. But of course, the moral responsibility lies also on this state and its citizens."Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu
Estonia plans to close its border to the 50,000 Russians who regularly arrive in Tallinn or other Estonian destinations through travel visas. Becoming the first country in the European Union to take such steps. Ordinary Russians will no longer for the foreseeable future be able to enter the EU through Estonia. Hundreds of Russians cross the border daily at Narva, Estonia.
"We hope that countries will come up with some solutions. Maybe they can agree on something.""I keep myself away from politics, but since my relatives are buried here I would like to keep coming.""But what can you do? For us regular people we can't solve this. This has to be negotiated and I hope our countries at some point will reach agreement and find compromise."Anna (last name withheld)
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| Photo: pexels |
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had earlier issued a fresh request for EU states to ban visas for Russian nationals. The bloc, he says, should refrain from becoming a "supermarket", open to anyone with the means to enable entry. He took care to add that his proposal was not meant to apply to Russians seeking help for risking freedom or their lives by opposing the policies of Vladimir Putin.
European airspace, shut to Russians, leave travellers from Russia to drive to bordering Baltic countries and Finland, to fly to other parts of Europe on Schengen visas which allow 90 days of travel within the 26-member-country agreement that constitutes the border-free Schengen Area. Estonia has broken with that courtesy, completely closing the Estonian-Russian border to all Russians.
"We will sanction all the Schengen visas which are valid currently except some humanitarian and family related cases", said the country's foreign affairs minister. Roughly 2,500 Russians normally enter Estonia daily, half on Schengen visas. A spokesperson for the Estonian government stated his country would ban travel on previously-issued visas, the first EU country to do so.
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| Photobank Moscow-Live / flickr |
As a reflection of Estonia's former status as a satellite of the Soviet Union, about nine percent of Estonian residents are citizens of foreign countries; mostly Russians. It was not a human right, according to Foreign Minister Reinsalu, to enter Europe; Russian taxpayers visiting Europe fund Russia's war in Ukraine.
Finland's Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, declared that this neighbour of Russia too plans to slash the number of visas issued to Russians, to ten percent of the present number from September forward. Currently, a rush of Russian tourists flock through, bound for Europe. The influx of Russian tourists using Finland and its Helsinki-Vantas Airport as a European holiday gateway destination, propelled this decision.
Both Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas called for an EU-wide visa ban. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz opposed such a ban, observing that Russians should be able to flee their home country should they disagree with the regime making no mention, however, of the holidaying aspect of Russian travellers throughout Europe.
“Stop issuing tourist visas to Russians. Visiting Europe is a privilege, not a human right.""Air travel from RU is shut down. It means while Schengen countries issue visas, neighbours to Russia carry the burden (FI, EE, LV – sole access points).""Time to end tourism from Russia now."Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas
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| A visa center in Moscow. Gleb Schelkunov / Kommersant |
Labels: Estonia, European Union, Finland, Germany, Russian Invasion of Ukraine, Russian Travel Visas, Schengen Visas
posted by Pieface @ Saturday, August 20, 2022
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