In the center of Utrecht. File photoMOSCOW, Aug 17The Dutch authorities do not officially comment on the discussion in the EU on the issue that Russians should stop issuing Schengen visas, in general, the country is still reacting to this topic with restraint, said Russian Ambassador to the Netherlands Alexander Shulgin. «Official Dutch authorities do not comment on this situation, but local international experts, legal experts, warn that if this happens, it will be a disaster, because it will discredit the European Union itself and will be a violation of the principle professed by Brussels — the equality of all before the law,» Shulgin said on the air of the Russia 24 TV channel. «So far, as far as one can judge, there has been a restrained reaction in Holland on this matter,» the ambassador added. The German government had previously submitted for discussion a draft EU decision to ban the issuance of Schengen visas to Russian citizens as part of the next sanctions package. In addition, the Latvian Parliament adopted a statement calling on EU countries to stop issuing visas to citizens of Russia and Belarus. On Thursday, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said that Estonia would close the border for Russian citizens with Schengen visas issued by the republic. answer,» said Ivan Nechaev, deputy director of the information and press department of the Russian Foreign Ministry. As Konstantin Kosachev, vice-speaker of the Federation Council, emphasized, the proposal to deprive Russians of the right to obtain Schengen visas is contrary to the EU's human rights obligations and the regulations of the union itself. The press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov noted in connection with these statements that European countries unfriendly to Russia are imposing sanctions «to the point of unconsciousness», the Kremlin hopes that over time «common sense will somehow manifest itself.»
Finland will halve the acceptance of applications for a Schengen visa from Russians
