European countries resorted to tricks to deprive the Russians of Schengen

Russophobia between the lines

The week in the Eurozone began with active calls from the Baltic shores to “accelerate the ban on the issuance of Schengen visas to all citizens of the Russian Federation.” Moreover, to do so before ministers EU foreign ministers to discuss this initiative in Prague on August 31. The countries most active in trying to get rid of Russians have already taken action: Estonia closed its borders to Russians with an Estonian visa last night, and Finland is introducing a “special visa regime” from September 1 for Russian passport holders.

We found out how exactly the Eurozone is closed to the Russians and what are the prospects of this process. .jpg” />

Photo: Global Look Press

At midnight today, Estonia banned citizens of the Russian Federation from entering its territory with Estonian visas – Schengen stamps issued by Estonian visa centers. The process began on July 15, when Russia, for its part, opened its land borders, and Russian tourists and shuttles flowed through them to the Baltic countries.

– They immediately started talking about tourists – they say, they don't care, and by bus to the airport in Tallinn, – shares a resident of the border region of Estonia, who has relatives on the Russian side, – to the west. And then Western Europe, if anything, will make us extreme by giving them visas. Under this sauce people supported. Even if it is inconvenient for me and my family. And in general, I think that ordinary tourists have nothing to do with it.

Almost immediately after the opening of the Russian-Estonian land border, Estonian Prime Minister Kallas said that “visiting Europe is a privilege, not a human right” and even posted about it on the social network: “Air flight from Russia is closed. This means that while Schengen countries issue visas, Russia's neighbors carry the burden (Finland, Estonia, Latvia are the only access points). It's time to end tourism from Russia.” To which she immediately called all European countries.

But it was the former Soviet Baltic republics that caught the outcry first – the former Soviet Baltic republics, each on their own terms, because it is illegal under EU law to deny access on the basis of citizenship. Latvia, for example, openly intended to cancel self-issued visas and residence permits, but Estonia got out of the situation more cunningly. According to its Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu, already granted visas will not be considered invalid, simply “their holders will be subject to sanctions in the form of not being admitted to Estonia.” The minister also reminded that Tallinn plans to “discuss this issue at the EU level and seek to introduce European-wide sanctions against tourism from Russia.”

Finnish officials took the “no-strings-attached” decision after yesterday's consultation, explaining the approved “visa mechanism for Russians” as the result. From September 1, 500 slots (time slots) will be available daily in Finnish visa centers for Russian visa applications in the Russian Federation, of which only 20% (100 windows) are for tourists and the rest for those who work or study. in Finland, relatives and “humanitarian missions” – a funeral or a visit to a dying person.

At the same time, Finnish diplomats specify that “each visa application will be processed individually, and the time and result of processing is influenced, among other things, by the stated purpose of the trip and the set of documents . On average, after the introduction of restrictions – i.e. from September 1 – the processing time for a Finnish Schengen visa will be approximately 5 months.

– Now there are slots for submitting documents to Finnish visa centers for the first half of October and they promise to issue a visa at the end of October, – explain the difference in the travel agency of the capital. – And from September 1, the visa will be issued in 5 months – that is, until April. But this is frankly a travesty: all documents required for a visa are valid for a maximum of 3 months and will of course be against EU policy as they expire during the 'processing period'.< /p>

– It is better to immediately understand what the Finns want to say between the lines: you will not get a visa. At least not from us, advises the visa broker. – But not because you are Russian (this is against the principles of freedom and tolerance), but because you “individually” find a violation in the purpose of the trip or in the documents.

About your intention to join the ban Poland also announced on Wednesday the entry of all categories of Russians, and not just tourists. Warsaw, in the person of its foreign minister, stated in a meeting with his Lithuanian counterpart that “ideally, the ban should be a solution at the European level, which would simply cancel the validity of already issued visas to Russians and everyone should stop issuing them.” ”

But on the contrary, there are doubts in the western part of Europe. English-speaking observer William Nattrass, who works in Prague, said in an interview with the American press the day before that “the idea of ​​banning all Russians from entering Europe does not hold up and only emphasizes the EU's inability to influence Putin,” and also looks more like a “cheap PR trick. ” than for practical help to Ukraine.”

Источник www.mk.ru

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