– On March 10, Lithuania decided to issue visas to citizens (Russia and Belarus) solely for humanitarian reasons or for other reasons resulting from international obligations. This is a solution that has proven to be effective and fair. But still too many European Union Member States have a different approach to this and we need to find a common solution, appeals Landsbergis.
Further part below the video
– Russian tourists who have been refused a (tourist) visa in the Baltic States can still apply for a visa in any other EU Member State.
– explains.
As he argues, In Lithuanian resorts, there is already a clear increase in the number of Russian touristswho entered the country with visas issued by other EU countries.
The Russians pounced on Schengen visas
– And as air travel from Russia to Europe is now very limited, the Baltic States have also become a major transfer point for people traveling to Europe from Russia and Belarus – an attraction too easily accessible for those looking to enjoy a bit of the European way of life while support President Vladimir Putin’s war, Landsbergis reports.
They dismantled the Soviet monument – the T-34 tank
– Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania do not want to welcome Russian guests, most of whom are supporters of Putin’s war – at least until Ukraine’s final victory. This contradiction over time can cause a rift between countries that still issue tourist visas and those that have already stopped (doing so). We must find a common and effective solution to make the visa ban as effective as possible, he concludes.