Germany tightened the rules for issuing visas for Russian citizens-last year they were given more than 10 times less than in 2019. Moreover, the German government called on all countries of the European Union (EU) to accept a single position in the issue of restrictions on the entry of Russians.

This is stated in the response of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany to a request DW. The Foreign Ministry assured that they act in accordance with the leading principles of the EU, prescribing to cancel the simplified visa regime with Russia.

" This applies to both Schengen visas and national, ”the answer says.

This refers to the decision of the Council of the European Union on the complete suspension of a simplified visa regime with Russia in connection with its full -scale aggression against Ukraine. And also:.

In Germany, they ensure that all countries of the Schengen zone use unified restrictions on Russians based on the leading principles of the EU. The country's government itself is reviewing and adapting the criteria for issuing visas to current circumstances.

Earlier it became known that in the framework of the increase in sanctions pressure on Russia in the EU, in the 19th package of sanctions, to ban the issuance of tourist visas to citizens of the aggressor country. In particular, such measures are offered by Poland, Finland and the Baltic countries.

But diplomatic sources of the media believe that within the framework of the next package of sanctions, the EU is unlikely to ban or significantly limit the tourist trips of Russians. By and large, due to the position of countries opposing such restrictions-September 16 in Brussels, Hungary expressed such a position.

It is worth noting that in 2024 German consulates the number of visas issued to citizens of the Russian Federation is 12 times from 330 thousand. up to 27 thousand. . In 2024, only 4 countries accounted for 80% of all Schengen visas issued by Russians:.

However, the EU directives are advisory in nature. According to the legislation of the European Union, the issues related to the issuance of visas remain within the competence of each member country separately.