Finnish Foreign Ministry questioned the legality of Estonia’s decision to restrict the issuance of visas to Russians

The Finnish Foreign Ministry did not recommend the country’s government to apply the Estonian restrictive visa practice in relation to Russians with Schengen visas, follows from the message of the department.

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The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs considered the decisions taken by other countries to be contrary to the Schengen Code.

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“Estonia is trying to claim that Russian and Belarusian tourist visa holders pose a threat to public order, internal security and international relations – directly on the basis of their nationality. Such an interpretation of Estonia can be considered legally dubious,” the Finnish Foreign Ministry said.

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It is noted that the Schengen Borders Code does not provide for refusal of entry directly on the basis of citizenship. But in Finland, discussions continue on further visa restrictions for Russians against the backdrop of a special military operation being carried out in Ukraine.