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Latvia demands Schengen prohibition on Russians
(MENAFN) Latvian Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis has called on EU nations to halt the issuance of Schengen tourist visas to Russian citizens, arguing that they pose a security risk to the bloc, according to media reports.
Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, the EU has suspended its visa facilitation agreement with Russia and introduced travel restrictions. Several European countries, including Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, and the Czech Republic, have already banned Russian tourists. Norway, a non-EU country sharing a border with Russia, has also blocked entry for Russian travelers deemed ‘non-essential.’
Speaking in Brussels on Thursday while presenting the 2024 Schengen Barometer data, Kozlovskis stated that the EU is engaged in a “hybrid war” with Russia, which impacts security measures at borders and within the bloc. He insisted that banning Russian tourists from the Schengen Area is a “moral duty” and cited alleged security incidents in Latvia, including drone border crossings, propaganda efforts, and an arson attack on the Occupation Museum.
Despite these restrictions, the number of Schengen visas issued to Russian passport holders increased by 25% in 2023, exceeding 500,000, according to Schengen Barometer data. Italy accounted for the highest number of visa applications from Russians, issuing 134,141 visas, making it the top destination for Russian travelers in the Schengen Zone.
Last month, Latvia's National Security Committee proposed a law that would prohibit certain government employees from traveling to Russia or Belarus, including for transit purposes.
Latvia has maintained a staunchly anti-Russian stance since the Ukraine conflict began. In addition to banning Russian-registered vehicles and tightening travel restrictions, the country has increased military aid to Ukraine, demolished Soviet-era WWII monuments, and deported thousands of ethnic Russians who failed mandatory Latvian language tests.
Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, the EU has suspended its visa facilitation agreement with Russia and introduced travel restrictions. Several European countries, including Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, and the Czech Republic, have already banned Russian tourists. Norway, a non-EU country sharing a border with Russia, has also blocked entry for Russian travelers deemed ‘non-essential.’
Speaking in Brussels on Thursday while presenting the 2024 Schengen Barometer data, Kozlovskis stated that the EU is engaged in a “hybrid war” with Russia, which impacts security measures at borders and within the bloc. He insisted that banning Russian tourists from the Schengen Area is a “moral duty” and cited alleged security incidents in Latvia, including drone border crossings, propaganda efforts, and an arson attack on the Occupation Museum.
Despite these restrictions, the number of Schengen visas issued to Russian passport holders increased by 25% in 2023, exceeding 500,000, according to Schengen Barometer data. Italy accounted for the highest number of visa applications from Russians, issuing 134,141 visas, making it the top destination for Russian travelers in the Schengen Zone.
Last month, Latvia's National Security Committee proposed a law that would prohibit certain government employees from traveling to Russia or Belarus, including for transit purposes.
Latvia has maintained a staunchly anti-Russian stance since the Ukraine conflict began. In addition to banning Russian-registered vehicles and tightening travel restrictions, the country has increased military aid to Ukraine, demolished Soviet-era WWII monuments, and deported thousands of ethnic Russians who failed mandatory Latvian language tests.
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