To put pressure on Russia, the European Union has just decided that Russian citizens will no longer be able to benefit from a reduced rate or a shortened period to obtain a Schengen visa allowing them to travel to Europe. But the three Baltic countries bordering Russia, announced Wednesday, September 7 to go further: Russian citizens will now be barred there, even if they already have a visa.
With our correspondent in Riga, Marielle Vitureau
The Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian ministers agreed on the decision, which will be taken at national level, but the principle will be identical: Russian nationals will no longer be able to travel to the Baltic countries, even with a Schengen visa.
They are 135,000 at traveled to Lithuania since the start of the war, and twice as many in Estonia.
For the three Balts, it is quite simply a matter of security. Mass tourism does not correspond to the spirit of the sanctions.
If the measure that will come into force in mid-September is the strictest, it is not the first. Since February 24, the first day of the war, the Baltic countries no longer issue new visas to Russians. During the summer, Estonia even decided to no longer accept Russian tourists with Schengen visas issued by its own country, and to no longer grant residence permits for Russians who would like to come and study.
The three Baltic countries are not completely closing their doors, however: nationals of the Russian Federation, especially journalists, who have to leave their country for humanitarian reasons will be accepted. Hundreds of visas and residence permits have already been issued to them.
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