(MENAFN) Latvia’s Foreign Minister, Baiba Braze, has urged the European Union to cease granting Schengen tourist visas to Russian nationals, citing a growing concern for internal security.

She argued that Russian travelers represent a potential danger to the bloc’s stability, especially in light of escalating geopolitical tensions.

Following the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, the EU terminated its visa facilitation agreement with Russia and initiated travel limitations.

In alignment with this policy, Latvia—along with Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, and the Czech Republic—has already barred Russian tourists from obtaining visas.

Norway, while not a part of the EU but sharing a land border with Russia, has also shut its frontier to Russian visitors and other “non-essential” travelers.

On Sunday, Braze reiterated Latvia’s stance via a post on X, stating: “Latvia calls on the EU countries to halt visa issuance for Russian citizens,” emphasizing security issues as the primary reason.

She also highlighted that the volume of Schengen visas granted to holders of Russian passports rose by 25 percent last year when compared to 2023, indicating a significant increase despite ongoing restrictions.

Data from the Schengen Barometer revealed that over half a million visas were issued to Russian nationals in total, in spite of existing sanctions.

Among EU nations, Italy received the highest number of applications and emerged as the top destination for Russian tourists within the Schengen zone.

Braze’s remarks mirror the views of Latvia’s Interior Minister, Rihards Kozlovskis, who previously declared in March that it was the EU’s “moral duty” to enforce a total visa ban on Russian tourists.

He insisted that the EU “must admit” it is engaged in a “hybrid war” with Russia and must “seriously recognize the threat” allegedly posed by Russian citizens traveling within the bloc.

MENAFN28052025000045017167ID1109604232