By Fatimah Idera
Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have banned Russian citizens access to their country amid the fallout from Russia’s ongoing unprovoked invasion of Ukraine as Schengen visas for tourism, business, sports, or cultural purposes are now blocked from all four of these countries’ territory.
A statement by Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland earlier this month cited increasing security where Switzerland also said it has Suspended simplified visa procedures for Russians beginning the same day.
Also, Poland and the Baltic states said their respective bans on the national level were not an outright entry ban and commonly agreed legitimate exceptions will remain in force for dissidents, humanitarian cases and a handful of other circumstances including Russian diplomatic missions and familial links at a “substantial growing influx.
On August 31,the EU suspended its visa-facilitation agreement with Russia as a necessary first step and the EU’s members debated a near-complete ban on Russian visitors with Germany and France arguing such a move would be counterproductive and Nordic to Baltic states leading the proponents.
However the Russian authorities have criminalized many public and even private expressions of dissent against the invasion which are tightened measures against the media and NGOs.
Recall that tens of thousands of Russians have left the country since the invasion began in late February, to escape the unprecedented financial, airspace, trade, and other international sanctions put in place in the West.
