On Thursday, Estonia became the second European country to ban Russian citizens from entering its territory, Tallinn’s Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said, quoted by TASS.

“The sanction will be applied within a week to Schengen visas issued by Estonia. Restrictions will apply to holders of Russian visas. They will be banned from entering Estonia,” Reinsalu said.

He said that the authorities in Tallinn would make some exceptions, especially for the Russian diplomatic corps in Estonia and their families, as well as for employees who carry out cross-border transport and for people who have the right to free movement under European law. Union.

The restrictions will also not apply to persons whose entry to Estonia is necessary for humanitarian reasons, and close relatives of citizens of the country or those who permanently reside in the Baltic country.

Reinsalu said that more than 50,000 Russians have Schengen visas issued by Estonia.

The move comes after Estonia and Finland asked the European Union to stop issuing visas to Russian citizens this Tuesday.

Latvia and Estonia were the first to take measures against Russian citizens

“Visiting Europe is a privilege, not a human right,” Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.

Kallas recalled that flights from Russia to Europe are being suspended, which means that when Schengen countries issue visas, the burden is on Russia’s neighbors, as Finland, Estonia and Latvia are the only land access points.

Last week, Latvia became the first European country to ban Russian citizens from entering its territory, a sanction encouraged by Ukraine.

On Thursday, Latvia recognized Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, angering Moscow.

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