Finnish politician criticized Valtonen's call to ban visas for Russians
Quick Look
- Finnish politician Armando Mema said that Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen's call to ban the issuance of visas to Russians would harm the economies of EU countries.
- Mema advocated the normalization of relations with Russia and the opening of borders.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Elina Valtonen sent a letter to the European Commission with a proposal to ban the issuance of tourist visas to Russian citizens.
EU countries will harm themselves if they follow the call of Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen and ban the issuance of visas to Russians, said Finnish politician, member of the Freedom Alliance party Armando Mema.
Earlier, Valtonen sent a letter to the European Commission calling for a ban on issuing tourist visas to Russians.
“Finland used to receive significant benefits from tourists from Russia, now... (Valtonen - ed.) wants other EU countries to damage their own economies,” Mema wrote on the social network X.
He pointed out that Finland's economic problems are caused by Russophobia.
“Our political party will continue to work on opening the borders with Russia and normalizing relations,” Mema emphasized.
The politician also condemned Valtonen’s Russophobic rhetoric and accused her of hysteria.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has more than once called the tightening by the European Union of the rules for issuing Schengen visas to Russians discrimination on the basis of nationality and an example of the hypocrisy of Brussels.
Open Questions
- What will be the European Commission's reaction to Valtonen's letter?
- Will other EU countries support Finland's initiative?
