The European Commission explained the impossibility of banning the issuance of visas to Russians

The EU cannot ban the issuance of short-term visas, the European Commission noted. However, members of the union can independently "study each issue of issuing short-stay visas in a particular situation",

The visa code of the European Union does not contain the possibility of stopping the issuance of short-term visas, including to Russian citizens, Anita Hipper, a representative of the European Commission, said at a briefing.

She was asked how the European Commission felt about the idea of ​​banning the issuance of entry visas to Russians. Earlier, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Estonian Prime Minister Kaya Kallas made such an appeal.

“The EU Visa Code, which regulates the issuance of short-stay visas, does not provide for the possibility of stopping the issuance of such visas. There are always categories of citizens for whom visas should be issued, for example, in humanitarian cases, for family members, journalists or dissidents, ”Hipper replied (quoted by TASS).

At the same time, EU member states can independently "study each issue of issuing short-stay visas in a particular situation," she added.

Which countries do not issue Schengen visas to Russians Society

On the eve of Zelensky called on Western countries to close the borders for the Russians for a year and impose a complete embargo on the purchase of Russian energy. The President believes that these measures will be "the only way to influence [Russian President Vladimir] Putin." With border closures, Russia's entire population can be "held accountable": its citizens must "live in their own world until they change their philosophy," Zelensky added.

Later, Estonia again called for a ban on issuing visas to Russians. Her Prime Minister Kallas recalled that after the events in Ukraine, the EU stopped air traffic with RUSSIA. And while Russians are being issued Schengen visas, the burden is borne by countries with which Russia has open land borders: Finland, Estonia and Latvia, she said. According to Kallas, the EU "needs to do away with Russian tourism." Visiting Europe is "not a right, but a privilege," the prime minister said.

Read on RBC Pro Pro From JSC to LLC:what will happen to the shareholders and their shares Instructions Pro What do they buy in the summer at Wildberries and who sells the most.Rating Research Pro Most Important Tax Amendments,which will appear in the fall of 2022 Articles Pro Large-scale fire at the Ozon warehouse.How it will affect his resultswhat it's like to work in Chinese companies Articles Pro x The Economist The global smartphone market has stopped growing.How Apple's business will change Articles Pro Secrets of slow life:how to live slowly and stay productive Worst Corporation Pro Instructions in the World:what it's like to work at Walmart in 4 points Articles

The Russian authorities reacted negatively to these statements. “Any such proposals have no prospects. Their scent is also not very good, ”said Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the president, commenting on Zelensky’s call. According to him, the President of Ukraine must understand that the European countries that are trying to punish Russia are already "paying their bills." And soon their citizens will "wonder why they should pay for Zelensky's whims," ​​the Kremlin spokesman said.

As for Kallas' words about the "privilege" of visiting Europe, this is "another Nazi crap," Dmitry Medvedev, deputy HEAD of the Russian Security Council, said in turn. “I just want to remind her of other words:“ The fact that you are free is not your merit, but our flaw, ”he wrote on TELEGRAM.