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‘Not Right’: Finland Seeks EU Ban on Russian Tourist Visas
Kyiv Post • • world
Key Points:
- Finland has called for a complete EU-wide ban on issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens as long as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, urging the European Commission to propose necessary legislative changes.
- Finnish officials argue that individual member state restrictions are insufficient due to the Schengen visa allowing travel across most of the passport-free zone, with nearly 500,000 tourist visas issued to Russians in 2025 alone.
- The proposal targets not only tourists but also members of Putin’s inner circle, sanctioned individuals, Russian athletes linked to the Kremlin, and current or former combatants involved in the war against Ukraine.
- Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo plans to raise the visa ban proposal at the upcoming European Council meeting, citing security concerns over alleged Russian sabotage operations in Europe.
- An EU-wide tourist visa ban has not yet been adopted and would require consensus among member states and changes to the bloc’s common visa regulations.
