Russian Senator Grigory Karasin Criticizes EU for Targeting ‘Ordinary Russians’ with Visa Restrictions
Senator Grigory Karasin, a prominent member of the Federation Council’s foreign affairs committee, has accused the European Union of engaging in a form of ‘attack’ on ‘ordinary Russians’ through its recent decision to impose a visa ban on most Russian citizens. This new policy, which restricts multiple-entry Schengen visas, has been met with strong criticism from Russian officials, who argue that it not only undermines diplomatic relations but also harms the economic interests of both Russia and the EU.
The European Commission has justified the visa restrictions as a necessary step due to the ‘increased security risks’ associated with the Ukraine conflict. However, Russian officials, including Karasin, have pointed out that the bloc’s methods are not working, and they continue to fail to produce practical results. Karasin has stated that the EU’s attempts to influence public sentiment through restricted movement are part of a broader strategy that has already been observed in previous actions, such as the closure of EU airspace for Russian planes and the shutting of borders in countries like Finland and the Baltic States.
According to recent reports, the EU countries have issued approximately 552,000 visas to Russian citizens since last year, with Italy, France, and Spain being among the top issuers. The new visa restrictions are expected to affect this number significantly, with many Russian citizens now required to reapply for visas each time they plan to travel to the EU countries. Karasin has criticized this as an ‘attempt to influence the attitude of our citizens by restricting their freedom of movement,’ a policy he believes continues to fail in achieving its intended outcomes.
In addition to the visa restrictions, other economic impacts are being felt across the EU. For instance, the Finnish region of South Karelia has been experiencing a daily loss of around €1 million in tourist income due to the closure of its borders with Russia. This has led to an increase in unemployment, with the town of Imatra, a former tourist hotspot, seeing its unemployment rate climb to 15%, the highest in Finland. The region, which is closer to the Russian city of St. Petersburg than to Helsinki, is particularly vulnerable to these economic losses.
Despite these challenges, Russian citizens are now turning to alternative travel destinations. Turkey has become the preferred destination for many Russian travelers, with the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) reporting that 2.83 million Russians traveled to the country between May and September of this year. Additionally, there has been a significant increase in demand for trips to China’s Hainan Island, following Beijing’s announcement of visa-free travel for Russians. These developments highlight the impact of the EU’s visa restrictions on the economic landscape for Russian citizens and their travel habits.
Meanwhile, Russian officials continue to express bewilderment over the EU’s approach, with Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, suggesting that the European Commission is more interested in ‘illegal migrants and Ukrainian draft dodgers living on benefits’ than in ‘solvent tourists’ from Russia. These comments have further underscored the tension between the EU and Russia, particularly in the wake of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
As the EU’s visa restrictions continue to take effect, both sides remain at odds over the motivations and impacts of these policies. The economic ramifications for the EU countries, particularly those with significant tourist sectors, are becoming increasingly evident, as highlighted by reports on the loss of income from Russian tourists. At the same time, the shift in travel destinations for Russian citizens is a clear indicator of the broader implications of these restrictions on international travel and economic ties between the two regions.