Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Netanyahu’s office: A government meeting will be held on October 9 to approve the Gaza agreement.
Hani Al-Dali to Al Mayadeen: Aid will be delivered to the Gaza Strip in accordance with the humanitarian protocol signed on January 19.
Hani Al-Dali to Al Mayadeen: According to the agreement, 1,700 prisoners abducted from Gaza following Operation Al-Aqsa Flood will be released, including children and women.
Hani al-Dali to Al Mayadeen: 250 Palestinian prisoners with extreme and life sentences will be released.
Hamas: We will not abandon our people's national rights until freedom, independence, and self-determination are achieved.
Hamas: We affirm that our people's sacrifices will not be in vain, and we will remain true to our pledge.
Hamas: The great sacrifices and steadfastness of our people have thwarted the Israeli occupation’s plans of subjugation and displacement.
Hamas: We salute our people who confronted the fascist occupation plots that targeted them and their national rights.
Hamas: We salute our people who have demonstrated unparalleled pride, heroism, and honor.
Hamas: We salute our great people in the Gaza Strip, Al-Quds, the West Bank, and both inside and outside the homeland.

Bulgaria would not back EU ban on Russian travelers: FM

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 25 Aug 2022 21:43
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Bulgaria joins the club of EU countries that would oppose an EU-wide ban on issuing visas to Russians. 

  • x
  • This photo taken Thursday Jan. 20, 2011 shows the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing point between Bulgaria and Turkey (AP Photo / Valentina Petrova)
    This photo taken Thursday Jan. 20, 2011 shows the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing point between Bulgaria and Turkey (AP Photo / Valentina Petrova)

Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Kostadin Kodzhabashev said Thursday that the eastern European member of the EU would not back an EU-wide ban on issuing visas to Russians. 
 
EU foreign ministers will meet in Prague on August 31 to discuss a new package of sanctions against Russia amid calls from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, and Poland to ban Russians from traveling to the EU's borderless Schengen area. 
 
The diplomat told reporters at a briefing that Bulgaria supported the proposal of the EU Council’s Czech presidency to suspend the visa facilitation agreement with Russia but it would not back a complete ban on Russian travelers, according to Sofia Globe. 
 
It is noteworthy that Germany, Greece, and Cyprus have vocally opposed the ban, advocated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

While Germany and other western EU members have resisted the initiative or moved hesitantly, some eastern European nations have heeded their appeals and reduced or completely stopped issuing visas to Russians.

On his part, the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell pointed out on Monday that forbidding entry to all Russians was "not a good idea."

Read more: Poland reveals plan for EU-wide Russian visa ban

Estonia's Russian tourist visa ban enters into force

On Thursday, Estonia's decision to deny entry to most Russian citizens with Schengen visas issued by the Baltic country entered into force.

The visa restrictions were approved by the Tallinn government last week as part of sanctions imposed on Russia over the war in Ukraine.

Related News

IMF head flags US budget, Europe Defense spending challenges

Borrell: EU’s failure on Gaza response ‘colossal and deafening’

As a result of the decision, Russians with Estonian visas will now be turned away at the checkpoints in Narva, Luhamaa, and Koidula on the border between the two countries.

Diplomats and their families are exempt from the new rule, as are those involved in international cargo and passenger transportation; those with the right to free movement under EU law; those who need to enter the Baltic nation for humanitarian reasons; and close relatives of Estonian citizens or permanent residents.

This comes after Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas called last Tuesday on all members of the Schengen zone to stop issuing visas for Russians.

Stop issuing tourist visas to Russians. Visiting #Europe is a privilege, not a human right. Air travel from RU is shut down. It means while Schengen countries issue visas, neighbours to Russia carry the burden (FI, EE, LV – sole access points). Time to end tourism from Russia now

— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) August 9, 2022

Estonia's Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu had expressed that he wanted to see an EU-wide travel visa ban on Russian citizens in the next round of the bloc’s sanctions on Moscow.

On his part, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov touched on the issue, underlining that this would prompt Moscow to take retaliatory measures.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Estonia ceased to issue most types of visas for Russians. Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and the Czech Republic – have also imposed visa restrictions.

However, Estonia can’t prevent Russian citizens from entering if they have a visa issued by another EU member state.

For a total EU-wide to ban to be implemented, it would require the approval of all of the bloc’s 27 member-states. 

  • Europe
  • Russia
  • EU
  • Bulgaria
  • Ukraine
  • European Union
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025
The Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza showed that after combating Israeli aggression for two years, they remain victorious in the face of oppression (Mahdi Rteil/Al Mayadeen English)

Al-Aqsa Flood two years on, a tale of victory

  • Politics
  • 6 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
An Israeli armored vehicle moves on a street of a local market during a military raid in the West Bank refugee camp of Balata, Wednesday, October 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli settlers kill Palestinian youth near Ramallah amid raids

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during the Moscow format consultations on Afghanistan in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran interested in resuming nuclear talks: Lavrov

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speaks during a news conference at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington, April 25, 2025 (AP)
Politics

IMF head flags US budget, Europe Defense spending challenges

Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, at UN headquarters (AP)
Politics

Meloni faces ICC complaint over Gaza genocide complicity with Israelis

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS