Europe punished itself by banning multiple-entry visas to Russians

Europe Punished Itself by Banning Multiple-Entry Visas to Russians

Leonid Slutsky, a senior Russian lawmaker, stated that Europe has harmed itself by prohibiting the issuance of multiple-entry visas to Russians. Russian tourists had been a significant source of income for European countries.

"The tourist flow from Russia to Europe dropped nearly to zero long ago. But even in such an environment, EU countries received good profit from Russian tourists. Who have they punished in the long run? Themselves again," said Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the international committee of the Russian State Duma and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR).

Slutsky described the move as another step toward establishing a "sanction iron curtain on Russia."

The European Commission recently announced a complete ban on issuing new multiple-entry visas to Russian citizens.
The restrictions apply only to new applications; existing multiple-entry visas remain valid.
This information was confirmed by a European diplomatic source to TASS.

Context of the Visa Restrictions

The ban on multiple-entry visas to Russian citizens follows a significant decline in Russian tourism to Europe, which once contributed substantially to European economies.

Impact on Relations

The visa ban represents a broader strategy by the EU to impose sanctions on Russia amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Summary

Europe’s visa restrictions on Russians, intended as sanctions, also risk damaging its own economic interests tied to Russian tourism.

Author’s note: The EU’s attempt to pressure Russia through visa bans may backfire by cutting off a profitable source of tourism revenue for European countries.

TASS Russian News Agency — 2025-11-07