25 Jul 2022 18:37

Finland doesn't plan to stop issuing visas to Russian tourists

MOSCOW. July 25 (Interfax) - Finland does not plan to stop issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens over the special operation in Ukraine, Finnish Acting Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainen said.

"Finland supports the general sanctions policies of the European Union. However, the visa issue should be coordinated at the level of the EU and the countries of the Schengen Agreement. The EU has already frozen part of the agreement on easing the visa regime between the EU and Russia. There is readiness for other actions as well," the paper Ilta-Sanomat quoted Tuppurainen as saying.

Finland currently does not plan to take its own measures on the visa issue, she said.

In the meantime, according to Ilta-Sanomat, some Finnish deputies demand a halt to the issuance of visas to Russians over the special military operation in Ukraine, as was done in the Baltic states.

Finland lifted the coronavirus restrictions on entry on June 30, re-opening to tourists from third countries, including from Russia. Russia later lifted the restrictions on crossing the ground border as well. Russian tourists can visit Finland on foreign travel passports and Schengen visas starting from July 15.