Russian opposition figures criticise EU ban on multi-entry visas for country's citizens

"Starting a war and expecting to move freely in Europe is hard to justify, said the EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, when announcing the decision last Friday. She added that the tightened rules were a response to Russian drone incursions into European airspace and sabotage attacks linked to Russia. Many in the Russian opposition, however, said the move would be counterproductive."

"You can't blame a whole country for the actions of its government, said Ilya Yashin, a Russian opposition politician who was jailed in late 2022 for opposing the war in Ukraine, in a telephone interview. Yashin was freed in a prisoner exchange last year and now lives in Germany. Yashin said the visa decision was part of a trend of targeting ordinary Russians in the west with restrictions, while members of Putin's elite would always find loopholes if they need to."

"Schengen visas were already hard to obtain for Russians, and some EU countries such as Poland and Finland have banned entry to all Russian nationals who do not hold residence permits. Additionally, many Russian exiles have found their European bank accounts closed or frozen in recent months. There are many anti-war Russians and people who want to see changes in Russia. It would be more sensible to be allies with these people and combine forces with them to make a joint front against Putin, said Yashin."

"The exiled Russian journalist Sergey Parkhomenko agreed, describing the visa decision as extraordinary in its idiocy, ineffectiveness and demonstrative helplessness, and saying it was a sign of a European elite who wanted to show they were doing something, but did not know what to do."

The European Union introduced a ban on multi-entry Schengen visas for Russian citizens in response to reported Russian drone incursions into European airspace and linked sabotage attacks. Some Schengen countries had already restricted entry for Russian nationals, and many Russian exiles have faced closed or frozen European bank accounts. Russian opposition figures and exiles criticized the ban as counterproductive, arguing it targets ordinary and anti-war Russians while elites would find loopholes. Calls were made to ally with anti-war Russians to build a joint front against Putin, and critics characterized the decision as ineffective and demonstrative.

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