Finnish Prime Minister Marin supports restrictions on issuing European visas to Russians

This is reported by Yle.

Prime Minister Sanna Marin supports the restriction of Russians' trips to Finland and other EU countries and hopes that the EU countries will solve this issue together, because the Finnish border can be crossed with a visa from any Schengen country.

"It is wrong that while Russia is waging a brutal war of aggression in Europe, Russians can live a normal life, travel around Europe, and just be tourists", Marin said.

The Russian border was opened for tourism in July, immediately after the end of restrictions related to the pandemic.

According to Marin, the issue of the movement of Russians was discussed at EU summits throughout the spring. Sanctions have not been applied to tourism yet. According to Marin, the relevant discussion should be continued in the European Council.

"I believe that this issue will be raised even more acutely at the next meetings of the European Council. My personal position is that tourism should be limited", the Prime Minister said. 

Finland can also intervene in the situation itself and complicate the process of obtaining tourist visas for Russians, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, Pekka Haavisto, has already said.

According to Marin, discussions within the government, as well as clarification of the legislative framework, are ongoing.

"I personally would like to see a solution to this issue at the pan-European level", the Prime Minister said. 

In her opinion, it is also necessary to find out whether the law needs to be changed so that Finland can decide on its own national sanctions in exceptional situations.