The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is skeptical about a possible entry ban for Russian tourists. “With a general visa freeze, existing contacts with Russian civil society would hardly be possible. This would exclude civil society and members of the opposition, but also, for example, relatives of Austrians from the EU,” the ministry said on Thursday.
Countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, the Baltic States or Scandinavian countries such as Finland and Denmark had spoken out in favor of a visa ban or, in some cases, had already restricted entry for Russian citizens. “I find it deeply embarrassing that Russian tourists in southern Europe can bask in the sun and live in luxury while Ukrainian cities are bombed beyond recognition,” Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said. Germany and Slovenia, for example, spoke out against a ban.
Argument: Russians traveling can learn the truth about war
Austria also considers a general visa freeze “in the ongoing efforts against Russian disinformation” to be “counterproductive”, the foreign ministry stressed when asked by APA: “If they travel to the EU, Russians have the opportunity to find out what the Russian army in Ukraine – while in Russia itself there is a news embargo.”
Six packages of EU sanctions are enough
The EU has approved six sanctions packages since the start of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine six months ago. “Our actions are already targeting more than 1,200 individuals and nearly 110 entities, as well as a significant number of sectors of the Russian economy. With these measures, those responsible for the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, or for Russia’s (war)-relevant economic sectors, are being dealt with in a very targeted manner,” a spokeswoman emphasized.
Source: Krone
I’m an experienced news author and editor based in New York City. I specialize in covering healthcare news stories for Today Times Live, helping to keep readers informed on the latest developments related to the industry. I have a deep understanding of medical topics, including emerging treatments and drugs, the changing laws that regulate healthcare providers, and other matters that affect public health.
