EU Should Restrict Russian Tourism, Finnish PM Says

Commenting for the first time on the issue, the Prime Minister said that all EU countries should limit entry into the Schengen Area for citizens of Russia, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

The Finnish Prime Minister said for Yle News that it is not right for Russians to travel to Europe for tourism purposes, suggesting that they should no longer be permitted entry to the EU.

“It’s not right that at the same time as Russia is waging an aggressive, brutal war of aggression in Europe, Russians can live a normal life, travel in Europe, be tourists. It’s not right,” the Prime Minister told Yle News.

Apart from making such a statement, the Prime Minister said that she hopes EU countries decide on the issue together.

While Finland has yet to make a decision on the matter, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pekka Haavisto, suggested that the country makes it more difficult to obtain a tourist visa.

According to the Minister, the majority of Russians who obtain a Finnish visa are using it to reach another country. Thus, he has recommended that Finland applies stringent rules to citizens of Russia.

The cabinet is now discussing the issue, and the country is expected to come out with an official announcement soon.

Finns have already required the government to stop issuing visas to Russians. In addition, they have required that the Finnish government cancels the visas that have already been issued.

These requirements have been made through a citizens’ initiative, which has received more than 7,700 endorsements so far.

“We demand that the Finnish parliament quickly take the necessary measures so that the Finnish government does not issue new visas to citizens of countries waging wars of aggression contrary to international law. Finland should set an example for other European Union member states and prevent the issuance of new visas,” a part of the citizens’ initiative reads.

Finns have proposed that the visas continue being issued only for humanitarian or other similar purposes.

Moreover, they have recommended that the government maximises sanctions against the Russian population and stops allowing them to use Finland as a transit country.

Apart from Finland, other EU countries are also considering similar approaches.

Latvia has already restricted entry for Russians. The Latvian border authorities are requiring citizens of Russia to sign a document condemning the war in Ukraine. Only those who sign the document are permitted to cross the border.

The Latvian authorities explained that such a decision had been taken in order to be able to identify persons who support the war and pose a threat to Latvia’s national security.