Slovakia has resumed issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens, according to reports in the Russian media a few days ago, citing the visa centre that processes documents in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The opposition warns of the risks and mixed signals. The Foreign Ministry claims that Slovakia never suspended the issuance of tourist visas and is acting in accordance with European Union regulations.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, European Union member states agreed to tighten visa issuance for Russian citizens. Although the countries did not adopt a unified position, almost a third suspended the issuance of tourist visas, including Slovakia. According to several sources, this is now a thing of the past. Marián Kéry, chairman of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee from Smer: “It was an internal decision by the Foreign Ministry. If someone found the courage to change it, I applaud them.”
The Foreign Ministry responds that the issuance of tourist visas was officially restricted only during the pandemic and not after the outbreak of war. Minister Juraj Blanár from Smer: “The European Union has never made a clear decision to suspend the issuance of tourist visas. At the EU level, only the so-called facilitation agreement to simplify the visa process has been suspended.”
In addition to family members of EU citizens, doctors, diplomats, students, and international transport drivers, Russian tourists will also be granted visas again. Michal Bartek from Hlas responds: ”If tourists from the Russian Federation want to come to Slovakia and spend money here, let them come.”
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Martin Dubéci from the opposition PS party considers this a sign of disloyalty to collective decisions. “These sanctions take many forms, and this is one of them. These restrictions should be applied consistently and should not send mixed signals.”
Opposition KDH chairman Milan Majerský does not hide his disappointment. “All those who hold the helm of this country should realize that we have allies, whether in NATO or the EU, and we should cooperate with them in every single one of our activities, for the good of our citizens,” he said for Slovak Radio.
According to Eurostat, nearly 300 Russian citizens came to Slovakia on Schengen visas last year. In Spain, Italy, and France, the number exceeded 100,000.
Security analyst Radovan Bránik says that with family visas, it is easy for security forces to ensure that individuals do not engage in activities contrary to Slovakia's interests.
Source: Slovak Radio, Katarína Borovská
