Germany is pressing European Union member states to impose stricter limits on tourist visas for Russian citizens in the wake of recent sabotage attempts attributed to Moscow. The move comes after German authorities began investigating a Belarusian national holding a Russian passport suspected of attempting an attack on Leipzig airport using drones loaded with explosives.
Officials revealed that the suspect entered the Schengen Area on a tourist visa granted by the Italian embassy in Minsk. Notably, security sources indicated that the individual had likely never traveled through Italy despite the visa’s origin there.
Concerns Over Visa Issuance Practices
Germany’s foreign ministry criticized the volume of visas issued to Russian nationals, arguing that it contradicts the spirit of EU sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine. The government expressed difficulty in tracking who enters the EU and for what purposes due to the high number of visas granted.
Data shows Italy, France, and Spain processed about 75% of Russian visa applications in 2025, with Italy alone issuing more than 165,000 Russian visas—almost triple the number from 2021, despite the ongoing conflict. Similarly, visa issuance to Belarusians in Italy surged from under 3,000 in 2021 to over 50,000 last year.
Government and EU Responses
In response to the suspected sabotage linked to Russian intelligence, Germany announced measures including the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn, summoning the Russian ambassador, and intensified monitoring of illicit Russian shipping activities in the Baltic Sea. Concurrently, the EU introduced its 22nd sanctions package, expanding restrictions on Russians barred from entering the bloc.
Italy’s foreign minister has initiated a review of the Belarusian suspect’s visa issuance process. He emphasized that visas are granted if the individuals meet requirements and have no specific alerts, and pledged to investigate any procedural failures in this case.
Divergent Visa Policies Among EU Members
Several EU countries geographically closer to Russia or with significant Russian populations—such as Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and the Czech Republic—have virtually stopped issuing visas to Russians or implemented strict national measures beyond EU directives. Conversely, other nations have increased visa issuance, allowing continued access.
Experts warn that the extensive granting of tourist visas to Russians risks being exploited for espionage and sabotage, undermining efforts to isolate Russia economically and politically. A German security expert described the situation as “untenable” from both moral and security standpoints, urging the EU to drastically reduce tourist visa approvals for Russians.
While some Russian anti-war activists argue that tighter visa controls might not fully prevent sabotage activities, noting that Moscow increasingly relies on remotely recruited operatives who often come from outside Russia, European officials continue to view visa restrictions as a critical component of their security strategy.
