Latvia has once again clarified its position regarding Schengen visa issuance for Russian passport holders.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Baiba Braže, shared a Schengen.News article on her X account, quoting a part of it and writing “Latvia calls on the EU to halt visa issuance for Russians, citing security concerns.”
By making such a post, Minister Braže reiterated the country’s appeal to the other member states to stop issuing Schengen visas to Russian citizens, indirectly indicating that this nationality group represents a security concern to the bloc, Schengen.News reports.
In addition to the above-mentioned, Minister Braže also cited a part which said that the member states have granted 25 per cent more Schengen visas to Russian citizens in 2024 than in 2023. While the Minister did not make any statements of her own, it is believed that she found these numbers concerning.
The Minister of Interior of Latvia, Rihards Kozlovskis, also urged the member states to halt Schengen visa issuance for Russian passport holders.
During a meeting for the presentation of Schengen Barometer data for 2024, Minister Kozlovskis argued that the presence of Russian tourists in the bloc could put at risk the EU’s internal security.
He further stressed that the member states must admit that they are in a hybrid war and must take measures accordingly.
In the current circumstances, we cannot continue business as usual, we must admit that we are in a hybrid war. In Latvia, this affects the daily work of security institutions both on the border and within the country. Therefore, I call on all member states to seriously recognize the threat. Denying such a service is our moral duty.
Russians Were Granted Over 541,800 Schengen Visas in 2024
According to the most recent statistics published by SchengenVisaInfoRussian passport holders filed a total of 606,596 Schengen visa applications in 2024.
During the same year, the Schengen member states granted a total of 541,839 visas to Russians, with the approval rate standing at an average of 89.32 per cent.
Some countries were more likely to issue visas to Russians last year than others. Data show that the countries that granted the highest number of visas to this nationality group are also the top recipients of applications for Schengen visas every year.
The top five Schengen member states that granted the highest number of visas to Russians in 2024 are:
- Italy (152,254 visas)
- France (123,890)
- Spain (111,187)
- Greece (59,703)
- Hungary (23,382)
On the other hand, the top three countries that granted the lowest number of Schengen visas to Russians in 2024 are Norway (49), Romania (73), and Czechia (148).