Finnish President Suggests Tightening Visa Restrictions for Russian Property Owners

Russia's Foreign Ministry called the travel restrictions that have been imposed on Russian citizens for political reasons “another step towards aggravating the confrontation in bilateral relations” and warned that Russia reserves the right to retaliate.

Finnish President Sauli Niinistö has said he would consider tightening visa restrictions on Russians further.

Although rules governing the issuance of tourist visas to Russians have already been tightened, lawmakers should consider removing a clause that fast-tracks the granting of visas to property owners in Finland, Niinistö said at an event hosted by the Association of Political Journalists.

“Visas are not a subjective right. So there is room for discretion and, especially regarding tourist visas, it is quite justified to use that discretion”, Niinistö said as quoted by newspaper Hufvudstadsbladet.

Niinistö also said that the lifting of this rule would potentially have a knock-on effect on the motivation of Russians, both as individuals and groups, to property in Finland.

Niinistö also noted that revoking previously granted valid visas outright, a measure suggested by some EU politicians, could be illegal and “a bit too sudden” from a legal viewpoint.

Earlier this week, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said western sanctions against Russia must affect the “everyday life of ordinary Russians”. Marin also called the decision to upend the visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Russia “well-founded”, but added that it was “not enough”.

At the same time Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto thought that the European Union may stop issuing tourist visas to Russians completely.

Tourists from Russia have long been a pillar of the economy in the eastern part of Finland, with several border towns relying on Russian shoppers for income. Before COVD-19, the city of Lappeenranta alone saw about 4,000 Russian visitors every day. After the restrictions on Russian tourists, it was losing about a million euros ($1Mln) each day, its mayor admitted.

Earlier in September, the European Union adopted a proposal to fully suspend its visa facilitation agreement with Moscow. This means that the visa fee for Russians is raised from 35 euros ($35) to 80 euros and the issuance procedure is extended to up to six months. However, some European countries, such as Poland and the Baltic States, stopped issuing tourist visas to Russians altogether.

Since the launch of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine on 24 February - after the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics appealed to Moscow for help in defending themselves against Ukrainian atrocities - western countries have been rolling out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow ranging from energy to finance and tech.

However, restrictions imposed by the West have backfired spectacularly, resulting in rocketing energy prices worldwide and soaring inflation throughout Europe. Some EU countries have even had to adopt emergency plans amid a widening cost-of-living crisis. At the same time, Moscow repeatedly warned Europe that anti-Russian sanctions won't solve the crisis and would only result in further escalation.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said that restricting the travel of Russian citizens for political reasons will be yet another step towards aggravating the confrontation in bilateral relations and stressed that Russia reserves the right to retaliate.