Norway has announced a comprehensive ban on Russian tourists, intensifying its stance amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This decision, unveiled by Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl, takes effect on May 29 and marks a significant development in the broader European response to the conflict.
“The decision to tighten the entry rules is in line with the Norwegian approach of standing by allies and partners in reaction to Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine,” Mehl emphasized. This move underscores Norway’s commitment to align with its NATO allies and uphold international sanctions imposed on Moscow.
Norway, which shares a 196-kilometer border with Russia, initially imposed restrictions on Russian tourist visas in 2022 following the onset of the Ukraine war. The latest ban will deny entry to Russian citizens holding tourist visas, regardless of whether these were issued by Norway before the 2022 restrictions or by other Schengen Area countries.
Several European nations, including Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Belgium, have already suspended tourist visas for Russian nationals. Additionally, countries sharing borders with Russia, such as Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, have entirely closed access. Norway’s decision reflects a broader regional trend of tightening borders in response to security concerns.
Norwegian security agencies have expressed growing apprehensions about potential espionage and sabotage activities by Russian nationals. Inger Haugland, head of counterespionage for Norway’s domestic security agency PST, warned, “Russia now sees itself benefiting from carrying out sabotage in European countries in order to weaken Ukrainian defense capabilities.” This assessment has undoubtedly influenced the government’s recent actions.
Exceptions to the new regulations will be limited. They will include visits to close family members residing in Norway and individuals with specific visas for work or study purposes. However, all other Russian citizens traveling for tourism or non-essential purposes will be refused entry.
The Kremlin has swiftly condemned Norway’s decision, labeling it discriminatory. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated, “Of course, such decisions cannot remain unanswered. We do not accept such decisions. We regret that the Norwegian leadership has chosen this way of worsening our bilateral relations, which have already been of poor quality recently, and not on our initiative.”
Norway, although not a member of the European Union, is part of the Schengen Area, allowing for the free movement of more than 400 million Europeans and visitors without travel document checks. The new restrictions will, therefore, have significant implications for Russian nationals holding Schengen visas, further isolating Russia within the European context.
Relevant articles:
– NATO Member Blocks Russian Tourists , Newsweek, 05/23/2024
– Russia-Ukraine war – live: Push for US missiles to be fired into Russia as Kyiv destroys Putin ship in Crimea, Yahoo! Voices, 05/23/2024
– Norway Tightens Borders Amid Russian Threats, Devdiscourse, 05/23/2024
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