Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia ban Russians from territory even with a visa

The bridge over the Narva River, marking the border between Russia and Estonia, seen from the Estonian town of Narva, here February 16, 2017. © Ints Kalnins / Reuters

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

To put pressure on Russia, the European Union has just decided that Russian citizens will no longer be able to benefit from a reduced rate or a shortened period to obtain a Schengen visa allowing them to travel to Europe.

But the three Baltic countries bordering Russia, announced Wednesday, September 7 to go further: Russian citizens will now be barred there, even if they already have a visa.

Advertising

Read more

With our correspondent in Riga,

Marielle Vitureau

The Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian ministers agreed on the decision, which will be taken at national level, but the principle will be identical: Russian nationals will no longer be able to travel to the Baltic countries, even with a Schengen visa.

135,000

have gone to Lithuania

since the start of the war, and twice as many

to Estonia

.

For the three Balts, it is quite simply a matter of security.

Mass tourism does not correspond to the spirit of the sanctions.

If the measure that will come into force in mid-September is the strictest, it is not the first.

Since February 24, the first day of the war, the Baltic countries no longer issue new visas to Russians.

During the summer, Estonia even decided to no longer accept Russian tourists with Schengen visas issued by its own country, and to no longer grant residence permits for Russians who would like to come and study.

The three Baltic countries do not completely close their doors, however: nationals of the Russian Federation, in

particular journalists

, who must leave their country for humanitarian reasons will be accepted.

Hundreds of visas and residence permits have already been issued to them.

►

 To read also: 

War in Ukraine: Latvia declares Russia as a "terrorist state"

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Lithuania

  • Latvia

  • Estonia

  • Russia

  • Tourism

  • Ukraine