War in Ukraine: the debate over Russian tourist visas is already dividing European countries

At a meeting between the heads of the Nordic and German governments on Monday in Oslo, the various states showed signs of division on a limitation, in reaction to the invasion of Ukraine, of tourist visas issued to Russians.

A measure advocated by Helsinki but which arouses reluctance in Berlin.

"Ordinary Russians did not start the war but, at the same time, we have to understand that they support the war," Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said.

“It is not fair that Russian citizens can enter Europe, the Schengen area, be tourists (…) while Russia kills people in Ukraine,” she said at a conference of common press.

Read alsoWar in Ukraine: preventing Russians from traveling to Europe, is it really possible?

The Finnish Foreign Ministry presented a plan in early August to limit tourist visas issued to Russians wishing to go to the country, and Helsinki would like a decision at European level.

The EU has also indicated that it wants to raise the subject at the end of the month.

Since the ban on flights from Russia to the EU, more and more Russian tourists are traveling to the Nordic country, which shares a long border with Russia, to transit to other European states.

Reluctance from Germany

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed his reservations about such a measure.

“It was an important decision on our part to impose sanctions against those who are responsible for the war, against many oligarchs and those who profit financially and economically from the regime of (

) Putin,” he said. underline.

"We will continue to do so, but I think it's not the Russian people's war, it's Putin's war," he said.

According to him, a limitation of tourist visas would also penalize “all people who flee Russia because they disagree with the Russian regime”.

“Any decisions we make should not make it harder for them to choose freedom and leave the country in order to get away from the regime and the dictatorship in Russia,” he argued.

Sweden, through its Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, indicated that it had not decided on its position on this subject, while Denmark called for European unity to be maintained vis-à-vis Moscow.

“One of our achievements in this war is our unity, and I think we should have this discussion,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said.

"But I understand why some people find it a bit strange" that Russians can now go sightseeing in Europe, she said.