Poland and Baltic States Restrict Land Entry for Russians... "Serious Threat to National Security"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Poland and the Baltic States (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia), EU member countries bordering Russia, have announced restrictions on land entry for Russian nationals. While strong backlash from Russia is expected, these countries claim the measures are necessary for national security.

According to AFP on the 8th (local time), Poland and the Baltic States stated in a joint declaration that "from the 19th, most Russians holding tourist, cultural, sports, or business visas seeking entry into the EU will be denied entry," adding that "among Russians entering the EU are individuals aiming to weaken our countries' security foundations, posing a serious threat to national security."

Earlier, after the EU decided at the Foreign Ministers' meeting on the 30th-31st to fully suspend the simplified visa issuance agreement for Russians, Poland and the Baltic States have insisted that the EU must implement separate measures at the northeastern border with Russia to drastically reduce the number of Russian entrants into the EU.

According to Bloomberg, since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, one million Russian nationals have legally entered the EU. About two-thirds of them crossed the Estonian or Finnish borders into other EU countries. Once inside the EU, they can travel freely within Europe. Since the EU has banned direct flights from Russia, many Russians enter the EU by crossing land borders into Finland, the Baltic States, or Poland.

Poland and the Baltic States emphasized, "This is not a complete entry ban, and legally agreed exceptions will continue," highlighting that humanitarian cases, dissidents, diplomats, relatives, and permanent residents are exempt. They also added that cargo transport and those traveling to Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia's western exclave, will be protected.