Thread by @minna_alander

Finland will start limiting the number of issued tourist visas to Russian citizens to ~10% from September. Currently Finland receives ~1000 applications per day (before pandemic the number was 3-6k per day). This will not affect family visas

Introduction of a humanitarian visa is also being discussed. Together with Estonia, Finland will take up the visa issue at the next EU Foreign Affairs Council in the hope to find an EU-level solution. Currently Greece, Italy and Spain issue the most Schengen visas to Russians

One of the reasons mentioned by Foreign Minister Haavisto is that while a national solution is insufficient, Finland does not want to continue to be a transit hub for Russian tourists en route elsewhere in Europe while Finland is receiving Ukrainians fleeing the war

The decision comes only a day after 🇫🇮 PM Marin and 🇩🇪 Chancellor Scholz disagreed on the issue at a Nordic Prime Ministers’ meeting in Oslo to which Scholz was invited. (Video of the press conference in English)
is.fi/politiikka/art…

Marin’s statement very much worth listening to - she sums up the Finnish position in a well-balanced way, pointing out the nuances the issue has. Video clip via @iltasanomat

Scholz seems to have had his main interest in Norwegian gas on his trip to Oslo

https://twitter.com/bundeskanzler/status/1559242567811751936

Finland had already stopped giving appointments for the issuance of visas in September, which sparked a business in St. Petersburg: “travel agencies” had booked a lot of appointments in August and sold them for 30k roubles, via @hsfi
hs.fi/ulkomaat/art-2…