Latvia, like Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland and the Czech Republic, has banned the issuance of tourist visas to Russian citizens.
Norway, which has a land border with Russia and is not an EU associate State, besides closed the border to Russian tourists and others ‘not relevant’ guests."Latvia calls on EU countries to halt issuing visas to Russian citizens" — wrote Braze on Sunday on X, citing safety concerns.She noted that the number of Schengen visas issued to Russian passport holders increased by 25% last year compared to 2023. According to Schengen barometer data, this figure exceeded 500,000, despite sanctions against Russian applicants.
Data have shown that Italy is the leader in the number of visa applications received and has become the main destination for Russian tourists in the Schengen area.Braze's calls are echoing the words of the Minister of the Interior, Rihards Kozlovskis, who said in March that the EU has ‘moral obligation’ imposing a full visa ban on Russian tourists.
Kozlovskis stated that the EU ‘must admit’that it is in ‘Hybrid War’ with Russia and called for the block to “serious hazard recognition’what Russian tourists allegedly represent for the interior safety of the EU.Riga has taken an increasingly inconclusive position towards Moscow since the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, announcing extremist restrictions on travel for Russian citizens, including the ban on vehicles registered in Russia entering the country.Latvia, like neighbouring Estonia and Lithuania, has besides shown hostility towards its Russian cultural minority, which presently accounts for about 25% of the country's population.In addition to spending more than 1% of all GDP on arms for Ukraine, Latvia began to deport thousands of Russians who refused to join or failed to pass the compulsory Latvian language test.
She besides destroyed planet War II monuments from the times of the russian Union, and besides arrested dozens of people for celebrating the russian Union's triumph over Nazi Germany.In early this month, Latvian military intelligence issued public guidance on how to identify possible Russian spies and saboteurs.
Characteristics specified as ‘unwanted appearance’ and ‘Poor hygiene’ were listed as possible signs of a associate of the exploratory-sabotage group.
Translated by Google Translator
source:https://www.rt.com/news/618231-latvia-russians-schengen-visa-ban/
