The Nordic countries and Germany showed signs of division in Oslo on Monday over a restriction on tourist visas for Russians in response to the invasion of Ukraine, a measure favored by Helsinki but resented in Berlin.
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“Ordinary Russians didn’t start the war, but at the same time we have to understand that they support the war,” Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said after leaders met Nordic and German countries.
“It’s not fair that Russian citizens can enter Europe, the Schengen area, as tourists (…) while Russia is killing people in Ukraine,” she said during a joint press conference.
Finland’s foreign ministry unveiled a plan in early August to restrict issuing tourist visas to Russians wishing to travel to the country, and Helsinki wants a European-level decision.
Since the flight ban from Russia to the EU, more and more Russian tourists are traveling to the Nordic country, which shares a long border with Russia, to travel to other European countries.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed reservations about such a measure.
“It was an important decision on our part to impose sanctions on those responsible for the war, on many oligarchs and on those who financially and economically benefit from the regime of (Russian President, ed.)”, he underlined.
“We will continue to do this, but I think it’s not the Russian people’s war, it’s Putin’s war,” he said.
According to him, restricting tourist visas would also “punish all people fleeing Russia because they disagree with the Russian regime.”
“All the decisions we make should not make it harder for them to choose freedom and leave the country to escape the regime and dictatorship in Russia,” he argued.
Sweden, through its Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, has indicated that it has not adopted its position on the issue, while Denmark has called for maintaining European unity vis-à-vis Moscow.
“One of our achievements in this war is our unity and I think we should have that discussion,” said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
“But I understand why some people find it a bit strange” that Russians can now go sightseeing in Europe, she said.