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The European Commission presented today additional guidelines related to the issuance of Schengen visas for Russian citizens.

The Commission insists that short-term tourist visas for Russians be issued only after a thorough check and only if the requests are submitted in Russia, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs Ylva Johansson specified, BTA reported.

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Johansson added that it is necessary for EU countries to reassess and, if necessary, withdraw already issued Schengen visas for Russians due to the deteriorating security situation.

States must assess whether the relevant Russian citizen who has received or applied for a visa will comply with the requirement to leave the EU within 90 days of receiving the document, the EU commissioner said.

A visa is not a sufficient condition for entering the EU, it is necessary to carry out additional checks at the borders, insisted Johansson.

According to her, the additional guidelines are mainly intended for Russians who are trying to avoid mobilization because of the war in Ukraine and to obtain a tourist visa for the EU.

Finland closes its borders to Russians

The new requirements do not affect the right to request asylum, the European Commissioner specified.

Security threats are growing, Johansson summarized.

Many Russian citizens are leaving Russia because of the mobilization.

If a Russian citizen wishes to stay in the EU for more than 90 days, he does not need to obtain a visa.

We call on the EU countries to check very thoroughly whether there is a danger that when issuing a short-term visa, the relevant Russian citizen will overstay the authorized stay in the EU, Ylva Johansson said.

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