Germany is calling on European Union member states to impose stricter controls on tourist visas issued to Russian citizens, citing recent sabotage incidents that Berlin attributes to Moscow. The push follows an investigation into a Belarusian national holding a Russian passport who allegedly attempted to attack Leipzig airport using drones and explosives. Authorities determined the suspect entered the Schengen area through a tourist visa issued by the Italian embassy in Minsk.
German officials have criticized what they describe as excessive visa issuance to Russians. The foreign ministry stated that the volume of tourist visas granted to Russian nationals contradicts the intent of sanctions imposed following the conflict in Ukraine and creates uncertainty about who enters the EU and their purposes. Statistical data reveals Italy issued more Schengen visas than any other EU country in 2025, with Italy, France and Spain collectively accounting for roughly three-quarters of Russian visa applications. Italian visa issuance to Belarusian citizens increased sharply from approximately 2,968 in 2021 to over 50,000 last year, while visas to Russian citizens nearly tripled from roughly 63,900 to more than 165,000 during the same period.
In response to the alleged Leipzig plot, Germany’s government announced several countermeasures, including closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn and expansion of EU visa bans targeting Russian individuals. A 22nd sanctions package was also announced by the EU. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani ordered an examination of the visa granted to the suspect, noting that visas are issued when applicants meet requirements and no individual alerts exist.
Responses across the EU vary significantly. Eastern European nations including Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and the Czech Republic have substantially halted or drastically reduced Russian visa issuance through national measures exceeding standard EU policy. Conversely, other member states continue issuing substantial numbers of visas. German policymaker Roderich Kiesewetter called for immediate suspension of the tourist visa program for Russians, characterizing it as untenable from security and ethical standpoints. He contended the excessive issuance contradicts European isolation strategy and grants favorable treatment to wealthy Russians who benefit from the Kremlin.
Some Russian anti-war activists in Europe questioned whether tightened visa controls would effectively address Moscow’s operations, noting that Russian intelligence services have increasingly shifted tactics toward remote recruitment of local operatives through digital channels and cryptocurrency payments rather than deploying professional agents. Recent prosecutions in Germany and Lithuania identified Ukrainian and Baltic citizens rather than Russians as alleged recruits in such operations.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI