VILNIUS : EU members Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have agreed to restrict the entry of Russian citizens travelling from Russia and Belarus, their foreign ministers said on Wednesday. The three Baltic nations expect the entry ban to be in place by the middle of September, after it gets formal approval from the national governments, Latvian foreign minister Edgars Rinkevics said. “Border crossing by Russian citizens holding Schengen visas have dramatically increased. This is becoming a public security issue, this is also an issue of a moral and political nature.” Exceptions will be made for humanitarian and family reasons, lorry drivers, diplomats. Direct flights between Russia and the EU were cancelled after Russia invaded Ukraine. The scheme will be the first of its kind in the EU.
Finland, which also borders Russia, is not joining the ban due to legal uncertainty over whether it can refuse Russians with Schengen visas issued by other European nations.
Finland, which also borders Russia, is not joining the ban due to legal uncertainty over whether it can refuse Russians with Schengen visas issued by other European nations.