Finland on Tuesday sent a letter to the European Commission with a proposal to introduce common recommendations for all Schengen countries to cancel or invalidate visas issued to Russian citizens and restrict their entry. This was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.

 "Finland is asking for a recommendation that all countries of the Schengen area, while preventing the entry of Russian citizens through their borders, will simultaneously either invalidate or cancel the visas of such persons or deny them entry in accordance with standard practices," the message explains. .

 It adds that in such a case, information about a citizen of the Russian Federation who has been denied entry will be entered into the Schengen information system, and as a result, other member states may also prevent such a person from entering the Schengen zone.

 "During the meeting of foreign ministers on September 19, Finland proposed to include the issue of tourist visas in the sanctions of the European Union in order to strengthen the unity of the EU. Finland believes that it is important to take measures to achieve a common position of the EU regarding visa restrictions for citizens of the Russian Federation", - the Finnish Foreign Ministry notes.

 We would like to remind you that the EU has not yet introduced a joint ban on tourist trips by Russians, as a number of countries, including Hungary, opposed it.

 However, on September 12, the decision of the Council of the EU to suspend the agreement on the simplification of the visa regime with the Russian Federation entered into force. The process of obtaining visas to EU countries for Russians has become much longer and more expensive.

 In addition, on September 19, a ban on the entry of Russian citizens with Schengen visas into Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland came into force.