Finland limits visas to Russian tourists who were using nation as a gateway to Europe amid sanctions
Pekka Haavisto
In response to a surge in Russian tourists travelling to Europe, Finland will reduce the number of visas granted to Russians beginning on September 1.
According to the ministry, Finland would reduce daily visa application appointments in Russia from 1,000 to 500, with only 100 set aside for tourists.After a number of Western nations restricted their airspace to Russian planes in reaction to Russia's attack on Ukraine, Finnish land border crossings have remained among the few access ports into Europe for Russians.
Watch |WION Fineprint | Ukraine nuclear plant standoff stirs Chernobyl memories
Following Russia's easing of pandemic-related border restrictions a month ago, Russian tourists started utilising Finland's Helsinki-Vantaa airport as a gateway to European vacation spots, and the Finnish government on Tuesday agreed to limit their numbers.
Also read |'Mother Heroine': Vladimir Putin revives Soviet-era award for mothers of ten or more kids
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
Pekka Haavisto, the Finnish foreign minister told reporters, "And this maybe is not very appropriate if we, for example, think of the airspace restrictions put in place for Russia."
According to Haavisto, Finland and the Baltic nations would also suggest that the European Union terminate its visa facilitation deal with Russia, which facilitates Russians' travel to and within the EU.
Sanna Marin, the prime minister of Finland, and Kaja Kallas, the prime minister of Estonia, are among the EU leaders who have called for an EU-wide visa ban.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz disagreed with this position on Monday, saying Russians should be allowed to leave their home country if they disagree with the government.As per Haavisto, Finland was considering developing a national humanitarian visa that would be available to Russians who wanted to leave or travel to Europe for reasons such as advocacy or journalism.
(With inputs from agencies)
Watch WION LIVE HERE:
You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.
