Govt adopts resolution restricting entry of Russian tourists

The government on Thursday issued a resolution to significantly restrict the entry of Russian tourists into Finland, said the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in a press release.

The entry restrictions will entered into force on early Friday and will remain effective until further notice.

The restrictions are based on Article 6(1)(e) of the Schengen Borders Code, according to which the entry of third-country nationals requires that they are not considered to be a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or the international relations of any of the Member States.

The Schengen acquis allows Member States leeway for making national decisions and policies when factors such as international relations and security are taken into account.

The government deems that the Russian mobilisation and the rapidly increasing volume of tourists arriving in Finland and transiting via Finland endanger Finland’s international position and international relations.

The government resolution confirms the guidelines for assessing whether Russian citizens fulfil the entry conditions, for granting visas and for assessing the conditions for the validity of visas.

The resolution applies to both tourism into Finland and transit to other countries through Finland.

The resolution aims to stop tourism and related transit from Russia altogether. It will drastically limit the capacity to receive visa applications in Russia.

The resolution will not prevent travelling when it is deemed necessary for humanitarian reasons, for national interests or for meeting Finland’s international obligations.

Earlier on Wednesday, the government decided to restrict the entry of Russian people into Finland as a transit to travel to other Schengen countries.

Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto on 24 September said that increasing volume of Russian tourists transiting via Finland are causing serious harm to Finland’s international relations and entry into Finland can be refused under the Schengen Borders Code.