Lavrov announces stricter entry rules as a new Iron Curtain descends

Travel across northern borders will become even more difficult as Russia today announced introduction of retaliatory visa measures.

“This act will introduce a number of restrictions on entry into the territory of Russia,” Sergey Lavrov said in a speech broadcasted by state-owned TV channel Rossiya-24.

The new rules are a retaliatory move in response to other countries’ unfriendly actions, the minister said.

A presidential decree is now being made to amend the law on visa and entry regulations. The new restriction will apply to citizens from Russia’s list of “unfriendly states”, Lavrov said.

For now, the list includes Norway, Iceland, the United States and Canada, the EU states, the UK, Ukraine, Montenegro, Switzerland, Albania, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, North Macedonia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Micronesia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Taiwan.

There are already entry restrictions on Russia’s land borders to Europe and all flights between EU countries (including Norway and Iceland) and Russia are suspended. On Sunday, the last Allegro train left St. Petersburg for Helsinki.

Nearest open gateways for Russians and Europeans to travel between each other today are via the airports in Belgrade or Istanbul, if not flying via the Middle East or Central- South- or East Asia. 

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