Estonia restricts Russians from entering the country and issuing visas

From August 18, Estonia introduces a restriction on the issuance of visas to Russians and entry into the country with a Schengen visa already issued in the Baltic state. This was reported by the press service of the Estonian Cabinet.

It is emphasized that if a citizen of the Russian Federation who has received a Schengen visa for tourism, business or sports arrives at the border checkpoint of Narva, Luhamaa or Koidula, then he will no longer be able to enter Estonia.

Applying for an Estonian visa is also limited. Only those citizens of the Russian Federation who come to Estonia to visit a close relative who is a citizen of the Baltic state, diplomats and members of their families, as well as international trade employees can apply for a visa.

Recall that on August 15, the German authorities submitted for discussion by the EU a draft decision to ban the issuance of Schengen visas to Russian citizens as part of the next sanctions package. In addition, the Latvian parliament adopted a statement calling on European countries to stop issuing visas to citizens of Russia and Belarus.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an interview with The Washington Post, called on states to close borders to Russians for a year to “look at the result.”

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas called Russians visiting EU countries a privilege and urged them to stop issuing tourist visas. Similar “slogans” were voiced by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry and other states.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs considered these statements an open manifestation of chauvinism, and the country’s Security Council compared Estonia’s position with “Nazi crap.”