In a week: Estonia will close the border for Russians with Schengen visas

The Estonian authorities have decided to close the border for Russian citizens with Schengen visas issued by the republic.

The ban will come into force in a week, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said.

“The sanction means that the visas will remain valid.

However, sanctions will be imposed on visa holders when entering Estonia - that is, they will be prohibited from entering Estonia, ”Reinsalu said, his words are quoted by RIA Novosti.

Employees of diplomatic missions in Estonia and their family members, persons involved in international freight and passenger transportation who have the right to free movement under EU law, citizens whose entry to Estonia is necessary for humanitarian reasons, as well as close relatives of persons who have Estonian citizenship or a permanent residence permit in Estonia.

According to him, more than 50,000 people have received Schengen visas in Estonia.

At the same time, by next week, Reinsalu added, the question “how can all Russian citizens with Schengen visas be banned from entering Estonia” will be submitted for consideration.

Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies and Forecasts of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, member of the Russian Civic Chamber Nikita Danyuk believes that the Estonians "demonstrate another international lawlessness."

“Estonia itself violates the principle of freedom of movement within the EU, (actually canceling. -

) those Schengen visas that were issued directly in this country.

In fact, a situation is being created in which the presence of a Russian passport a priori deprives a person of elementary freedoms, such as movement within the territory of the EU countries on the basis of those documents that worked until recently, ”said Danyuk.

In his opinion, the answer to such a decision should be "a break in economic chains and ties."

“Because, despite the fact that Estonia is part of the EU, for it the Russian market, Russian capital plays a very important role.

Such decisions cannot be left without consequences, ”concluded the interlocutor of RT.

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According to political scientist Yuri Svetov, the Baltic states are increasingly competing "in all sorts of crazy ideas on how to annoy Russia."

“Latvia has recognized Russia as a “terrorist-supporting state”, Estonians set an example on how to deal with visas.

It can be expected that if the next package of sanctions is adopted, then the idea of ​​Estonia will enter it.

We must be prepared for the fact that this trend will continue, ”the expert emphasized in an interview with RT.

According to Sergei Tsekov, a member of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs from the Republic of Crimea, the authorities of the Baltic countries demonstrate outright hatred of Russia.

“Even before, they did not disdain the violation of human rights, especially when it comes to the rights of a Russian person.

Taking into account the fact that they have spent all the sanctions measures, they can cling to the ban on issuing Schengen visas to Russians.

Although this decision will be contrary to all generally recognized norms of international law.

If such a ban is adopted, then this will indicate that stupidity in the EU continues to prevail in those decisions that are made regarding Russia, ”said the RT senator.

On August 11, the Saeima of Latvia adopted a statement in which "Russia is recognized as a state that supports terrorism."

The document also calls on the EU to suspend the issuance of visas to citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus.

As noted by the representative of the European Commission, the countries of the European Union are indeed discussing the issue of issuing visas to Russian tourists.

“Discussions are being held at the EU level with member countries to ensure coordinated action,” TASS quoted him as saying.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an interview with The Washington Post, voiced a call to close the borders of Western countries for Russian citizens.

He was supported by Estonian Prime Minister Kaya Kallas.

However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on August 11 that he could hardly imagine the possibility of banning the issuance of visas to Russian citizens.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, in turn, advocated a "complete suspension of the issuance of visas" to Russians by the EU countries.

According to him, this can become another effective sanction.

“I plan to actively discuss this topic at an extraordinary meeting of EU foreign ministers in Prague at the end of August,” said Lipavsky.

“There can be no question of ordinary tourism for Russian citizens.”

At the same time, the authors of the Spanish edition of El Mundo believe that this initiative "is unlikely to receive universal support."

Meanwhile, Russia's permanent representative to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, on the air of the Rossiya 24 TV channel, expressed the hope that common sense would prevail in the countries of the European Union.

“Otherwise, we will observe the self-isolation of the European Union from the rest of the world – this is how it will have to be interpreted,” he added.