Kremlin: EU visa ban on Russians 'cannot remain without an answer'

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The proposal that would ban Russian tourists from Europe has divided EU nations recently, with some nations in full support and others opposing the idea such as Georgia, which has underlined its stance on not joining the "sanctions train" that other European countries and the US have jumped on, with secretary general of the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party, Kakha Kaladze, confirming that Georgia was open to Russian tourists.

During a two-day meeting in Prague that starts on Tuesday, EU foreign ministers will discuss the matter, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters: "We know that there are different views among Europeans on the matter. We will follow this closely. This is a very serious decision that could be directed against our citizens, ...of course, such decisions cannot remain without an answer". 

Brussels had enforced an abundance of continuous unexpected sanctions on Moscow as a response to the launch of the war in Ukraine. "Step by step", Peskov added, "Brussels and individual European capitals demonstrate an absolute lack of reason... This mix of irrationality, bordering on the insane, allows for such decisions (on visas) to be discussed". 

The EU had already suspended the facilitation of Schengen visa procedures for Russian official delegations and business leaders, but short-stay visitors are exempt and are allowed to travel to the EU. Despite Ukraine's appeal to have Russian tourists forbidden completely from entering the EU, a symbolic suspension of the facilitation of visa applications is anticipated to take place.  

Estonia proposed banning Russian citizens from entering Europe altogether in late July, with Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu saying that as a general rule, Estonia will recommend restricting Russian individuals' access to Europe. The Polish government underlined that it supported Estonian authorities' proposal for a European entry ban on Russian tourists and other types of travelers from Moscow as part of sanctions imposed on Russia due to the war in Ukraine.

Peskov previously touched on the issue of the Schengen region denying visas to Russians, underlining that this would prompt Moscow to take retaliatory measures.

Russian leisure travelers use Schengen visas, which are usually valid across 26 EU and associated countries including Switzerland and Norway. Schengen visas normally allow stays of up to 90 days in a 180-day rolling period. The Schengen Area is an area comprising 26 European countries, namely Austria, Hungary, Norway, Belgium, Iceland, Poland, Czech Republic, Italy, Portugal, Denmark, Latvia, Slovakia, Estonia, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Finland, Lithuania, Spain, France, Luxembourg, Sweden, Germany, Malta, Switzerland, Greece, and the Netherlands.