First Deputy Prime Minister, Interior Minister of the Czech Republic Vit Rakusan said that the government of the republic discussed the possibility of tightening the procedure for issuing visas to Russian citizens amid the crisis around Ukraine. It is reported by TASS.
He noted that the revision of the rules for issuing visas for citizens of the Russian Federation was discussed in the Czech Cabinet.
“We said that we would call our European colleagues on the basis of the negotiation platform of the heads of the EU Interior Ministry, so that citizens of the Russian Federation could use only biometric passports when traveling to the Schengen zone. This is necessary so that we have confidence that those who come to us are really those who have been issued such passports,” Rakushan emphasized.
He added that in parallel with this, the possibility of introducing humanitarian visas for Russians who are persecuted in the country, for example, activists of opposition political movements, is being considered.
Earlier, Polish President Andrzej Duda allowed the possibility of a travel blockade for Russian citizens if the situation in eastern Ukraine escalates.
In turn, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Latvian Seimas, Rihards Kols, proposed to suspend the issuance of tourist visas to Russians.
bbabo.Net