Finland becomes the last of the EU border countries to close its border for Russian tourists

HELSINKI, September 30 – RIA Novosti. Finland is the last EU country to border Russia to close its border to Russian tourists on Friday, the country’s government said.

Since September 19, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have jointly limited the travels of Russians.

The restrictions are based on Article 6(1)(e) of the Schengen Borders Act, which requires that the entry of third-country nationals not be seen as a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or the international relations of any country. Member States. When factors such as Schengen legislation, international relations and security are taken into account, member states provide freedom in national decisions and policies.

In Helsinki, they justified their decision by the special operation in Ukraine and the partial mobilization announced in Russia, which allegedly “changed the security situation in Europe”.

“The government believes that Russian mobilization and the rapidly increasing number of tourists to and from Finland are threatening Finland’s international position and international relations,” the cabinet said.

The regulation applies both to tourists arriving in Finland and to transit through Finland to other countries.

The Finnish Cabinet described its goal as a complete cessation of “tourism and related transit from Russia”. “It will greatly limit the possibility of accepting visa applications in Russia. The decision will not prevent travel if deemed necessary for humanitarian reasons, national interests or to fulfill Finland’s international obligations,” the statement said.

On September 1, EU foreign ministers agreed to suspend the visa facilitation agreement between Russia and the EU, making it longer, more difficult and more expensive to obtain a visa. An agreement was also reached that countries bordering Russia could restrict the entry of Russians at the national level.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow will not be like Brussels in its unreasonable policy of “burning bridges” between people, but reserves the right to retaliate. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Europeans continue their destructive anti-Russian line, but that Moscow’s reaction does not necessarily have to be a mirror image, it must first of all consider its own interests.