Finns call for more restrictions on Russian tourism

(Lappeenranta) At the Nuijamaa border post near the Finnish town of Lappenranta, vehicles of Russian tourists are flocking, some to enjoy the northern summer, others to go elsewhere in Europe.

Although the Nordic country applied for NATO membership after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it is the only EU country bordering Russia to still issue tourist visas to Russian citizens.

“I have been traveling here for twelve years,” Boris Sourovtsev, a 37-year-old resident of Saint Petersburg, told AFP as he waited to cross the border. “It’s a beautiful country with nature and lakes.”

After the European Union closed its airspace to Russian flights, Finland also became a rare transit country for Russians subsequently wishing to fly to other destinations in the EU.

With the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions by both countries in recent weeks, the passage of Russians has become much easier, leading to growing frustration on the Finnish side.

Proposals to Parliament

“It’s not good that Russians can travel freely in Finland. It takes away all the logic of the sanctions,” says Kirsi Iljin, a resident of Lappenranta.

In solidarity with Ukraine, Finland’s conservative party has proposed stopping granting new tourist visas to Russians, with broad support looming in parliament.

“The situation is unbearable,” said Jukka Kopra, a deputy from the National Coalition party. “Ukrainians are being killed, including civilians, women and children, and at the same time Russians are vacationing in the EU,” he told AFP.

Aki Lindén, the Social Democrat leader who serves as Prime Minister Sanna Marin during her vacation, voiced his support.

“Personally, I think the restrictions need to be tightened,” he told AFP.

The issue is complicated by the high number of existing visas, nearly 100,000.

“Alternatives are being considered,” according to the Finnish Foreign Ministry.

Other Schengen countries bordering Russia – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland – have already taken restrictions on Russian visas.

Moscow “will react very negatively” if Helsinki imitates them, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

Passageway

Since Finland lifted its COVID-19 restrictions at the border in late June and Russia eased its own in mid-July, the number of Russian tourists crossing into Finland has steadily increased, jumping by 125,000 in June to over 185,000 in July.

In July alone, more than 10,000 tourist visas were issued to Russians, according to Finnish media.

On the Russian side, the bus companies of Saint Petersburg say they are running at full speed with Helsinki, especially since the train connecting the two cities has been interrupted because of the sanctions.

“In recent weeks it has been systematically full. People want to take advantage of an easier passage,” Sergei Ivanov, of the Balt Car company, told AFP.

Especially since the planes for Istanbul or Belgrade, another access route still possible for Europe, reach very high prices.

If the Finns display a strong solidarity with the Ukrainians, the purchases of Russians passing through are an important resource for the border towns here.

Local traders are taking a very dim view of seeing Russian tourists disappear again, barely returned after two years of COVID-19.

“It’s the most absurd idea there is. What do they gain by isolating ordinary Russian citizens? “, plague Mohamad Darwich, the boss of Laplandia Market, a sign located a few minutes from the border. “They cause a huge problem for locals and business.”

If the history of the two countries has been heavy, the inhabitants of the border areas have traditionally had close contacts. But things changed with COVID-19 and then the war.

With his five-year visa in Finland, Boris Sourovtsev used to visit the country up to ten times a year. But he fears it is coming to an end.

“I would be very sad and disappointed. I hope the war will end soon,” he says.