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VIVA – The European Union (EU) members Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Finland that border Russia have applied a ban on entry to the country for Russian tourists. This implementation was said by the Lithuanian foreign minister said on Tuesday, August 23, 2022.
"I have spoken to ministers from all these countries. I do not see much difference politically," Gabrielius Landsbergis told reporters, as quoted from The Sundaily on Wednesday, August 24, 2022.
The EU foreign ministers will discuss the EU-wide visa ban for Russian citizens on Monday, August 29, 2022. This is supported mainly by the five countries bordering Russia and as a form of protest against the invasion of Ukraine.
German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz disapprove the ban on Monday, August 22, 2022. He said that Russian citizens should be able to leave their home country if they don't agree with Kremlin policies.
Several other EU countries such as Hungary are also likely to reject the EU-wide ban.
Tank Rusia yang Dihancurkan Tentara Ukraina Dipamerkan di Polandia.
- The Moscow Times/Wojtek Radwanski/AFP
Landbergis continued say, the regional visa bans for Russia, which ministers from five countries will discuss on the sidelines of Monday's meeting, will need to apply uniform rules to block Russian tourists while allowing dissidents to enter.
"Russian tourists should not be in the European Union. Their country are committing genocide (in Ukraine)," Landbergis said.
“Russians have mostly entered the EU via land borders from five countries since direct flights between Russia, and the bloc were suspended following the invasion,” Landsbergis added.
Last week, Estonia closed its borders to more than 50,000 Russians on previously issued visas. Estonia became the first country in the EU to do so which makes it difficult for ordinary Russians to enter the EU.
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky asked the West earlier this month to impose a complete travel ban on Russians. The request was met with strong protests from Moscow.
