Denmark believes visa restrictions for Russians should be introduced at EU level

In the first five months of 2022, almost three times more tourist visas were issued to Russian citizens in Denmark than throughout 2021. Although this is a matter of 28 visas per month, Denmark is ready to discuss restrictions on visa issue to Russian citizens at the level of the European Union.

That’s according to the Migration Service of Denmark, which provided Politiken with data on issued visas, Ukrinform reports.

"Over the first five months of 2022, almost three times more tourist visas were issued to Russian citizens than throughout 2021," the outlet reports.

A total of 141 tourist visas were issued to Russian citizens, that is 28 visas per month. In the 12 months of 2021, a total of 49 tourist visas were issued to Russians, that is, about four tourist visas per month. But this difference in numbers may be due to coronavirus-related travel restrictions that were in place in 2021.

Denmark’s immigration chief is convinced that restrictions on issuing visas to citizens of the Russian Federation should be introduced within the framework of the EU.

"The pan-European response proposed by Estonia is reasonable. It is clear that if Russians can enter one European country, then in principle they can enter the entire Schengen area. That is why sanctions should be introduced within the EU," said the minister.

According to The Local, Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said earlier this week that Denmark is open to discussing the issue of restrictions on issuing tourist visas to citizens of the Russian Federation with European and North American colleagues.

As reported by Ukrinform, Poland is working on a concept that would allow rejecting visa appeals by Russian citizens. The relevant decision could be passed in the coming weeks.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, which currently presides over the European Union, Jan Lipavsky, seeks to discuss at the meeting of EU foreign ministers, which will be held in Prague at the end of the month, a general suspension of visas for Russian citizens.