.png)
.png)
Latvia’s Minister of Interior, Rihards Kozlovskis, has urged all European Union member states to cease issuing Schengen visas to Russian citizens, citing security concerns.
Minister Kozlovskis made this appeal during a meeting of the Council of Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs of the European Union, following the presentation of the 2024 Schengen Barometer data.
According to the EU Commission’s Schengen Barometer, there was a notable rise in the issuance of Schengen tourist visas to Russian citizens in 2024 compared to the previous year. The data revealed that 565,069 Schengen visas were granted to Russians in 2024, marking a 25 percent increase from 2023. Additionally, the report indicated that Russian citizens accounted for 5.7 percent of all Schengen visas issued in 2024, with 90 percent of these being granted for tourism purposes.
Expressing concern over these figures, Minister Kozlovskis urged EU member states to recognize the risks associated with Russian tourists and to take action by suspending the issuance of Schengen visas to them.
“In the current circumstances, we cannot continue business as usual, we must admit that we are in a hybrid war. Therefore, I call on all member states to seriously recognise the threat. Denying such a service is our moral duty,” stated Minister Kozlovskis.
Latvia has already taken a firm stance on this issue, being one of six EU member states that have suspended the issuance of Schengen tourist visas to Russian citizens for non-essential travel. The country initially implemented this restriction in 2022, immediately following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and has since extended the measure until the end of 2026.
Minister Kozlovskis emphasized that Latvia has faced incidents of irregular border crossings and acts of sabotage involving Russian nationals, reinforcing the necessity for stricter regulations regarding their access to the EU. He also recalled the EU Commission’s 2022 guidelines on visa and entry restrictions for Russians, which were introduced in response to growing security concerns.
Following Minister Kozlovskis’ appeal, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and urged EU member states to maintain a unified approach regarding Schengen visas for Russian citizens.
The Latvian Ministry of Interior has stated that the issue of Schengen visas for Russian nationals could be re-examined at the next meeting of EU interior ministers. The EU has already recognized the security threats posed by Russia and continues to assess the broader implications of global security on the functioning of the Schengen Area.
By fLEXI tEAM
Comments