(MENAFN) Latvia’s Foreign Minister Baiba Braze has called on EU nations to stop granting Schengen tourist visas to Russian citizens, citing concerns over internal security threats.

Following the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, the EU suspended its visa facilitation agreement with Russia and imposed travel restrictions. Several countries—Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, the Czech Republic, and non-EU member Norway—have already implemented bans on Russian tourist visas or non-essential travel.

On Sunday, Braze posted on X (formerly Twitter) urging a broader EU-wide visa freeze for Russian nationals. She highlighted a 25% increase in Schengen visas issued to Russians in 2024 compared to the previous year, with over 500,000 visas granted despite ongoing sanctions. Italy reportedly received the most applications and remains the top Schengen destination for Russian travelers.

Braze’s comments align with earlier statements from Latvian Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis, who in March argued that a total visa ban for Russian tourists was a “moral duty” and a necessary step in what he described as a “hybrid war” with Moscow.

Latvia has maintained a tough stance on Russia, implementing stringent travel restrictions, prohibiting Russian-registered vehicles, and intensifying scrutiny of its ethnic Russian population, which makes up roughly a quarter of the country. The government has also started deporting Russians who failed or refused to pass a mandatory Latvian language exam.

In addition, Latvia has dismantled Soviet-era WWII memorials and arrested individuals for celebrating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Its military intelligence agency recently released public guidelines for spotting suspected Russian spies, listing characteristics such as “poor hygiene” and “sloppy appearance” as possible indicators.

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