Estonian FM says his country may restrict entry for Russians with Schengen visas

TALLINN. Aug 31 (Interfax) - Estonia is backing the suspension of the EU-Russia visa liberalization agreement but considers this move insufficient and is planning to restrict entry for Russian nationals with visas issued by other EU member countries.

"Until we have reached an agreement on how to restrict the entry of Russian nationals to the European Union, Estonia and other countries that share a border with Russia and Belarus will consider a national visa ban or restricting border crossings for Russian nationals with EU visas," Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said following the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Prague, according to a quote from the Estonian Foreign Ministry.

"At the meeting, I called for increasing defense aid to Ukraine for the sake of Europe's security, but also to restrict the options Russian nationals have to come and indifferently enjoy the freedoms offered by the democratic Europe," Reinsalu said.

Estonia will keep its doors open to those Russian citizens arriving in the country on humanitarian grounds and to Russian opposition members, he said.

The foreign ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland came up with a joint statement at the Prague meeting, pointing at a significant hike in Russian citizens entering the EU and the Schengen area, which allegedly creates a European security threat.