Finland’s decision to close the borders for tourists from Russia demonstrates the consistency of the country’s authorities and their consolidation with the Baltic countries, said Dmitry Novikov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs. It is reported by “Gazeta.ru”.
He expressed the opinion that the ban could also be related to Finland’s desire to join NATO.
“They promised to do this, and now they guarantee that they will realize their intentions. All this fits not only into the behavior of European countries that are consolidated on the basis of confrontation with Russia, but also in the context of Finland’s entry into NATO,” the parliamentarian noted.
Novikov stressed that the countries of Western Europe continue to take a different position on the issue of entry restrictions.
“A number of countries will take a different position in the authorities for the simple reason that to profess the principle of not letting Russian citizens in at all means to shackle themselves hand and foot, to close a variety of projects that could be considered in the West as projects of influence within the country on the political, social situation, the formation of the fifth column,” he concluded.
Earlier, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said that the ban on entry to Finland for Russian tourists will come into force on Friday, September 30, and will remain in effect until further notice. He clarified that Russians will be able to come to the country only for study, work, family reasons or for treatment.
Prior to this, media sources reported that Finland would close the border for Russian tourists on the night of September 30th. Thus, the number of Russian citizens entering the country will be halved.
It was noted that, nevertheless, the possibility of Russians entering the republic for family reasons, for study or work, will remain. In the passport of a tourist who is denied entry, a corresponding note will be made, and the visa itself will actually be cancelled.