According to a survey conducted by STT for the group leadership, the four largest parties, SDP, centre, coalition and Basic Finns support banning tourist visas for Russians because of the war in Ukraine.
Pressure to stop issuing Russian tourist visas is growing. Politicians across party lines demand urgent action from the government.
Restrictions on visas for Russians divide the Foreign Affairs Committee and the division does not follow the government-opposition line.
reached out to members of the committee from the governing parties Kimmo Kiljunen (sd.), Mikko Savolan (middle), Saara Hyrkön (green) and the opposition Elina Valtonen (collect.). With the exception of Kilju, all of them find Russians vacationing in Finland problematic.
Chairman of Basic Finns Riikka Purra has demanded on Twitter to suspend the issuance of visas, as, for example, Estonia has already done.
Mikko Savola and Elina Valtonen also support ending the issuing of visas quickly.
According to Valtonen, in the current situation it is fundamentally and symbolically very problematic that Finland can be freely entered from Russia with a tourist visa.
– Yes, in this situation, there is a reason to stop issuing tourist visas to Russians. Russia is waging a brutal war of aggression in Ukraine and it is completely absurd that people can visit the West as if nothing had happened, Valtonen reasons.
Savola also thinks that the government should evaluate the visa issue soon and bring a proposal for strictures.
– It is contradictory that Russians come to Finland or through Finland to Europe to shop or have a good time, and at the same time Russia is killing people in Ukraine and trying to annex parts of the country to itself, says Savola.
Savola considers the visas to be part of the same entity as the sanctions imposed on Russia. According to Savola, suspension would send a signal to the Russian leadership that it is not working properly.
Savola hopes that the foreign affairs committee will get a report on the number of visas and the possible adverse effects of the restrictions. Russians on the deportation list cannot get a tourist visa to Finland.
Saara Hyrkö also thinks it is understandable that Russians’ shopping trips to Finland are now testing people’s sense of justice. This is why the government should deal with the matter.
Savola and Hyrkkö: a common approach to tourist visas from the EU
Mikko Savola and Saara Hyrkkö hope that the European Union would form a common position on visas for Russian tourists.
– An EU-level solution would be the best option because it would have the greatest impact. There are currently several routes to Europe from Russia, says Hyrkkö.
According to Elina Valtonen, it is such a matter of principle that Finland also has national room for maneuver in the decision.
– As Russia’s border neighbor, we must act independently and discreetly, if the situation requires it, he emphasizes.
Valtonen also highlights the security policy aspect now that Finland is joining NATO.
– With a tourist visa, you can get here quite freely for various reasons. It is difficult to assess whether this is also related to security concerns from Finland’s point of view. That would also be in favor of putting the visa practice on hold, Valtonen points out.
– There can be many types of people among them, even though they want to believe good about ordinary citizens. There is a risk that many people can easily move across the border. That’s why this comprehensive review should be done quickly now, says Savola.
Kiljunen: By isolating, we will create North Korea or Cuba from Russia
Kimmo Kiljunen, on the other hand, does not support restrictions on visas. Kiljunen’s view differs from the official position of the Social Democrats.
According to STT’s survey of the group leadership, SDP’s parliamentary group supports banning tourist visas from Russians because of the war in Ukraine.
According to Kiljunen, isolating ordinary Russians from Europe and the rest of the world does not promote democracy and human rights and does not bring about change in Russia.
In Kiljunen’s opinion, relations between Finland and Russia should be maintained specifically at the level of citizens.
– By isolating, we are strengthening the preservation of Russia’s current regime, which means that efforts should definitely be made at all levels to increase the interaction of civil societies. This will bring about changes. Isolation policy will only create a new North Korea or Cuba for the next 50 years. That system has then remained permanent, Kiljunen reasons.
Kiljunen hopes that the resulting stalemate will be resolved in such a way that Russians will change their own society.
Saara Hyrkkö also finds it problematic to cut off all contact with the Russians, because it does not help to turn public opinion in Russia against the war. Instead, Hyrkkö suggests educating visitors about the events of the war in Ukraine.
– As long as people travel with tourist visas, it would be appropriate to systematically send a message to those arriving at the border about Russian atrocities and crimes in Ukraine, Hyrkkö says.
Valtonen also thinks it is important to separate Russia’s current administration and its people from each other, but it must not affect visa restrictions.
– On the other hand, this same argument has been used for the past decades and unfortunately, Russia’s development has only gone in the opposite direction. We need to find ways to support Russian civil society and democratic development in ways other than allowing tourists to enter freely, Valtonen states.
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