Putin suspends simplified procedures for visas granted to European countries

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree on Monday suspending simplified visa procedures for officials and journalists from European countries deemed "unfriendly", in response to sanctions imposed on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

This decision was taken in view of the "need to adopt urgent measures to respond to the unfriendly steps of the European Union".

This decree suspends the work of agreements that allowed officials and journalists from the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein to obtain a travel visa in a relatively easy and quick way.

The new measure would lengthen procedures and deadlines.

Putin asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by virtue of the decree, to ban entry into the country for foreigners who have committed "unfriendly" acts towards Russia.

In recent weeks, Moscow announced measures banning senior Western officials, such as US President Joe Biden, from entering its territory.

These measures come in response to a series of economic sanctions imposed on Russia since it launched its attack on Ukraine on February 24.

The European Union, for its part, has banned broadcasts of RT and Sputnik, which are widely considered to be the Kremlin's propaganda arm.

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