> The Kremlin has lashed out at European critics including leaders of EU states and besieged Ukraine over their calls for all Russians to be banned from the West until their country ends its invasion of Ukraine along with the underlying mindset.
>
> The sharp response follows encouragement by the Finnish and Estonian prime ministers for a ban on visas to Russians and news that the French military has banned Russian nationals from a medieval fortress and touristic site outside Paris that houses military archives.
>
> …
>
> Some EU countries, including Latvia, have already stopped issuing visas to Russians, citing the war.
>
> …
>
> But Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said on August 9 that “the irrationality of thinking” behind calls for such bans “is off the charts.”
>
> Amid increasing tensions with the West, poisonings abroad allegedly ordered by senior Russian officials, and the creep of Russian troops and proxy fighters from Georgia to Ukraine to Syria and central Africa, Putin and other Russian officials have complained of growing “Russophobia.”
>
> Peskov said the fresh calls to ban Russians “can only be viewed extremely negatively” and warned that “any attempt to isolate Russians or Russia is a process that has no prospects.”
>
> EU members and Russia neighbors Finland and Estonia have hinted they’re willing to try a visa ban.
>
> Finland Prime Minister Sanna Marin told Finnish broadcaster YLE on August 8 that “it is not right that while Russia is waging an aggressive, brutal war of aggression in Europe, Russians can live a normal life, travel in Europe, be tourists.”
>
> Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas followed with a call for countries to “stop issuing tourist visas to Russians.”
>
> “Visiting #Europe is a privilege, not a human right,” Kallas tweeted. “Air travel from RU is shut down. It means while Schengen countries issue visas, neighbors to Russia carry the burden (FI, EE, LV – sole access points). Time to end tourism from Russia now.”
>
> …
>
> The French military has imposed a ban on Russians visiting the storied Chateau de Vincennes, once the residence of French kings and a venue for tours and concerts as well as part of the French armed forces’ historical archives.
>
> AFP quoted two Russian women denied entry by French guards after showing their documents and being told they couldn’t get in “because you’re Russian.”
>
> …
Like with the blocking of Central Bank reserves, some sanctions have bigger effects than previously expected.
They should do it. Hopefully the UK and other countries will do likewise.
I mean, I would understand if they banned some specific personnel or people involved in the war. But banning regular citizens is just wrong. Especially since they need visas, so you are/were screening their documents and exactly know who is that person.
I mean, the wheel of fortune has turned, and now it is the Baltics that have the upper hand.
See, I wasn’t convinced this was a good idea before, since I didn’t see much impact on the russian state, but if Putin howls at the suggestion, then I think I might be coming around to the idea.
Russia is being treated badly I say!
Evil travel bans!? Why, when all the Russian military is doing is invading, killing, raping, torturing , bombing, looting, industrial levels of stealing, threatening nukes, threatening nuclear power stations and desperately trying to annex more land , despite living in the biggest country on the planet, most of it empty.
Why are we being so Russophobia, we in the west need to learn a little more self awareness clearly.
Cry about it.
Man fuck the Kremlin, fuck you kremlin, can you just stop the war so I can continue my relaxing ass European life?! Fucking scumbags!
aw
I support the ban because of purely emotional reasons. I feel disgust at what Russia is doing.
11 comments
> The Kremlin has lashed out at European critics including leaders of EU states and besieged Ukraine over their calls for all Russians to be banned from the West until their country ends its invasion of Ukraine along with the underlying mindset.
>
> The sharp response follows encouragement by the Finnish and Estonian prime ministers for a ban on visas to Russians and news that the French military has banned Russian nationals from a medieval fortress and touristic site outside Paris that houses military archives.
>
> …
>
> Some EU countries, including Latvia, have already stopped issuing visas to Russians, citing the war.
>
> …
>
> But Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said on August 9 that “the irrationality of thinking” behind calls for such bans “is off the charts.”
>
> Amid increasing tensions with the West, poisonings abroad allegedly ordered by senior Russian officials, and the creep of Russian troops and proxy fighters from Georgia to Ukraine to Syria and central Africa, Putin and other Russian officials have complained of growing “Russophobia.”
>
> Peskov said the fresh calls to ban Russians “can only be viewed extremely negatively” and warned that “any attempt to isolate Russians or Russia is a process that has no prospects.”
>
> EU members and Russia neighbors Finland and Estonia have hinted they’re willing to try a visa ban.
>
> Finland Prime Minister Sanna Marin told Finnish broadcaster YLE on August 8 that “it is not right that while Russia is waging an aggressive, brutal war of aggression in Europe, Russians can live a normal life, travel in Europe, be tourists.”
>
> Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas followed with a call for countries to “stop issuing tourist visas to Russians.”
>
> “Visiting #Europe is a privilege, not a human right,” Kallas tweeted. “Air travel from RU is shut down. It means while Schengen countries issue visas, neighbors to Russia carry the burden (FI, EE, LV – sole access points). Time to end tourism from Russia now.”
>
> …
>
> The French military has imposed a ban on Russians visiting the storied Chateau de Vincennes, once the residence of French kings and a venue for tours and concerts as well as part of the French armed forces’ historical archives.
>
> AFP quoted two Russian women denied entry by French guards after showing their documents and being told they couldn’t get in “because you’re Russian.”
>
> …
So far Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Czechia, and Belgium voiced out support. Belguim, to my surprise, [was actually the first country to do it: they called for this right on February 24.] (https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belgium-wants-eu-stop-issuing-visas-russians-over-ukraine-minister-2022-02-24/) [And they actually adopted the policy.](https://dip.org.ua/en/visas/belgium-stopped-issuing-visas-to-russians/)
Countries already doing this on national level are Estonia, Latvia, Czechia, Belguim, the Netherlands ([albeit for different reasons](https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/netherlands-stops-issuing-visas-to-russians-after-expulsion-of-dutch-diplomats/)). There were also conflicting reports about Bulgaria.
Cry me a river.
Like with the blocking of Central Bank reserves, some sanctions have bigger effects than previously expected.
They should do it. Hopefully the UK and other countries will do likewise.
I mean, I would understand if they banned some specific personnel or people involved in the war. But banning regular citizens is just wrong. Especially since they need visas, so you are/were screening their documents and exactly know who is that person.
I mean, the wheel of fortune has turned, and now it is the Baltics that have the upper hand.
See, I wasn’t convinced this was a good idea before, since I didn’t see much impact on the russian state, but if Putin howls at the suggestion, then I think I might be coming around to the idea.
Russia is being treated badly I say!
Evil travel bans!? Why, when all the Russian military is doing is invading, killing, raping, torturing , bombing, looting, industrial levels of stealing, threatening nukes, threatening nuclear power stations and desperately trying to annex more land , despite living in the biggest country on the planet, most of it empty.
Why are we being so Russophobia, we in the west need to learn a little more self awareness clearly.
Cry about it.
Man fuck the Kremlin, fuck you kremlin, can you just stop the war so I can continue my relaxing ass European life?! Fucking scumbags!
aw
I support the ban because of purely emotional reasons. I feel disgust at what Russia is doing.