UN Secretary General Guterres called visa restrictions against Russians in the EU not a good idea Guterres expressed the hope that after the end of hostilities, visa restrictions for Russians in Europe will disappear /media/img/0/77/756635719193770.jpg 673w” media=”(max-width: 320px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), (max-width: 320px) and (min -resolution: 192dpi)” >
The decision of the European Union to limit issuing visas to Russians and “not letting them come”— this is “not a good idea,” said in an interview with “RIA Novosti” UN Secretary General António Guterres.
The head of the UN was asked if he did not consider such measures a violation of human rights against Russians. Guterres said that relations between the EU and Russia since the beginning of the special operation in Ukraine “worsened in many aspects.” He also expressed the hope that “all these situations will disappear”; after the end of hostilities.
The UN Secretary General also recalled that some Russians decided to leave their homeland against the background of the military operation in Ukraine. “So it's probably not a good idea to keep them from coming,” — he added.
The European Union has suspended the simplified visa regime with Russia since September 12. This means that obtaining visas will become a longer, more complicated and more expensive process. Thus, the visa fee will increase from €35 to €80, and the standard period for making a decision on applications for a Schengen visa will increase from ten to 15 days and in some cases can be extended up to 45 days. In addition, the rules for obtaining multiple visas are being tightened, and applicants will have to submit more documents.
Explaining the tightening of the visa regime, Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan noted that this agreement gives “privileged access” in the EU for citizens of countries that are “reliable partners and with which the EU shares common values.” Russia, after the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, “undermined this trust and trampled on fundamental values”; the international community, he said.
The Russian Foreign Ministry, commenting on the actions of the EU, said that it “simply locks its cage from the inside and isolates itself both from Russia and from the rest of the world, complicating business and personal ties between peoples.” As for retaliatory measures, Moscow will act in its own interests, President Vladimir Putin stressed. “Here, as in the energy sector: we will not allow anyone to impose any decisions on us,” — he noted. According to the President, the Russian authorities are interested in foreign students, businessmen, athletes and artists coming to the country. “Why restrict them? We will not cut these contacts ourselves. And those who do this, they are not isolating us, but themselves,” — Putin said.
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