A hundred or so Russians are queuing at Finland’s visa center in St. Petersburg. Everyone goes back and forth with various papers needed to submit a visa application. A young couple comes out and is willing to talk to news. MANY WANTS: It is busy at the Finnish visa center in St. Petersburg. Many Russians in the city have been used to visiting the neighboring country. Some also travel on to other Schengen countries. Photo: Jurij Linkevich / news Danil Artshikov says that he has relatives who live in Finland and he often travels across the border to visit them. But now he is trying to help his girlfriend, Yekaterina Melnikova, get a Finnish visa. The young man can understand that some EU countries want to show Russia what they think of the war in Ukraine by making it more difficult for Russians to get visas. But he does not believe that the measure will work as it is intended from the western side. – People can get angrier from this. Many people do not think that anyone here is guilty, here they think that the evil people who refuse us visas are in the West, says Artshikov. A woman who gave only her first name, Julia, says EU countries making it harder for Russians to get visas are wronging ordinary people and the Russian government. – We are not guilty of anything, this is a very difficult case for us, says the woman. Heavy Traffic Until recently, there has been fairly extensive traffic from the St. Petersburg area to Finland and the Baltic Republics. VESTOVER: A bus with Russians leaves from the main station in St. Petersburg. It is going to Tallinn in Estonia. Photo: Jan Espen Kruse / news From the main bus station in Russia’s second largest city there have been between ten and twenty buses every day to the EU countries. In the past, there were also trains to Finland, but this was stopped after the war against Ukraine began. Many Russians in this area have been used to going on holiday or on shopping trips to neighboring countries. Now everything indicates that this traffic is going to be much less. According to the Reuters news agency, Estonia recently decided to cancel 50,000 visas that had been issued to Russian citizens. Canceling agreement The EU’s foreign ministers today agreed to cancel a visa agreement between the EU and Russia from 2007. This was announced by the EU’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell. SUPPORTS MEASURES: EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell at a press conference in connection with the meeting in Prague today. Photo: Petr David Josek / AP – Relations with Russia cannot continue as normal. This will greatly limit the number of new visas issued by EU member states, he says. This does not mean that a visa ban has been introduced for Russian citizens, but that the process of obtaining a visa to the EU becomes significantly more difficult for Russians. Applying for a visa will now involve more bureaucracy and increased costs, and the process will take longer. The foreign ministers do not agree on a general visa ban for Russian citizens, which several countries have advocated. Poland and the Baltic countries say in a joint statement that the suspension of the visa agreement is an important first step, but that it is important to drastically limit the number of tourist visas issued to Russian citizens. Russian authorities criticize President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson is very dissatisfied with what is now happening on the EU’s side. He emphasizes that Russia will come up with countermeasures, and calls DISAGREE: Aleksandr Shishlov leads the liberal party Jabloko in the St. Petersburg city council. He doubts that strict visa rules will affect the conflict in Ukraine. Photo: Jan Espen Kruse / news the restrictions for “unreasonable”. The leader of the liberal party Jabloko in the city council in St. Petersburg, tells news that he views with concern the deterioration of relations between Russia and Europe. – I understand that we all have responsibility for what is happening now, but I am not sure that visa restrictions help to stop the bloodshed and the conflict in the center of Europe, points out Aleksandr Shishlov. LEI SEG: This family finds it sad that it is now becoming more difficult for Russians to travel to EU countries. Photo: Jan Espen Kruse / news A family of three comes out of the visa center with a folder full of papers. They hope that the visa will go well, but they are not sure. – For our family this is very sad, we are very happy to travel to Finland and the Schengen countries. We are sorry and hope that these rules will be changed, says the mother of the family, Darja. She understands why the EU countries act as they do, but doubts that most Russians will change their attitude to the war because of new visa rules.
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The EU makes it more difficult for Russians to get a visa – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
