Calls for halt to Russian tourists visiting Finland

LAPPEENRANTA (Finland) • Buses of Russian tourists stream into Finland at the Nuijamaa border crossing in the country's south-east, some hoping to enjoy the peaceful Finnish summer and others planning to travel farther into Europe.

Finland may be seeking membership from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, but the Nordic country remains Russia's only European Union neighbour to grant tourist visas to Russian citizens.

"I have travelled here for 12 years," 37-year-old Boris Surovtcev from St Petersburg told AFP while waiting to cross.

"This is a wonderful country with nature and lakes."

After the EU shut its airspace to Russian flights, Finland has also become an important transit country for Russians looking to fly elsewhere in Europe.

But many Finns are unhappy with the situation, and the thought of Russians enjoying a Finnish summer while Ukrainians suffer under a brutal invasion has been met with indignation.

"It is not right that Russians can freely travel to Finland. It takes away the basis for the sanctions," local Kirsi Iljin said. "I think there should be some restrictions."

As an act of solidarity with Ukraine, Finland's conservative opposition party proposed a halt to new tourist visas for Russians this week.

"This situation is unbearable," said Mr Jukka Kopra, a National Coalition Party MP. "Ukraine's citizens are being killed, including civilians, women and children, and at the same time, Russians are spending holidays in the EU."

There appears to be widespread backing for the proposal in the Finnish Parliament, with MPs across party lines voicing support for visa restrictions.

"Personally, I think restrictions should be increased," said Mr Aki Linden from the ruling Social Democrats, acting prime minister while Ms Sanna Marin is away.

The high number of existing visas - up to 100,000 - makes the issue more complicated, he said.

Finland's Foreign Ministry told AFP that "alternatives are currently being examined".

Other Schengen countries that share a border with Russia - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland - have already restricted Russian visas.

On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia "would react very negatively" to proposed restrictions.

After Russia lifted Covid-19 travel restrictions on July 15, the number of Russian tourists heading to Finland has increased steadily.

Finland removed its travel restrictions at the end of last month.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE