Estonia closes entry to Russians with Schengen visas

ERR reported about this with reference to the speech of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Urmas Reinsalu.

"In a week, a sanction will be applied to Schengen visas issued by the Republic of Estonia. The sanction means that the visas will remain valid. However, visa holders will be subject to restrictions when entering Estonia, that is, they will be prohibited from entering the country", the minister said.

At the same time, there are certain exceptions to the innovation.

For example, people who are employees of diplomatic missions in Estonia and members of their families will not be sanctioned. Also people engaged in international cargo and passenger transportation, as well as those who have the right of free movement in accordance with EU legislation.

People whose entry into Estonia is necessary for humanitarian reasons, as well as close relatives of those who have Estonian citizenship or a permanent residence permit in Estonia, will also be able to enter the country.

"I emphasize once again - firstly, this innovation comes into force in a week. Secondly, it means that a large proportion of Schengen visas issued in Estonia actually continue to be valid, but entry to Estonia to those people who do not fall under exceptions are not allowed", Reinsalu said.

He also emphasized that this decision applies only to visas issued by Estonia, and in no way bypasses visas issued by other Schengen countries.

At the same time, next week the government intends to discuss ways to ban all Russian citizens holding Schengen visas from entering Estonia.

The head of the office of the President of Ukraine, Andrii Yermak, commented on the decision of the Estonian government.

"The isolation and return of Russia to the USSR is the goal of the civilized West. The Russian strategy of rudeness and terror at the state level should remain exclusively within the borders of the Russian Federation and not spread to the democratic world", Yermak wrote.