Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated on his Twitter account that entering Europe is a privilege, not an automatic right, and urged a ban on Russian citizens from EU entry. He noted that while direct air links with Russia have ceased, responsibility for traffic lies with neighboring states such as Estonia, Latvia, and Finland.
“Stop issuing tourist visas to Russians. Visiting Europe is a privilege, not a human right. Air traffic from the Russian Federation is closed. Schengen countries grant visas to Russians, while Russia’s neighbors Latvia, Estonia, and Finland (acting as a single access point) shoulder the burden. It is time to halt tourism from Russia,” he wrote on social media.
initiative from the past
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded by saying European attempts to curb tourism from Russia reflect attitudes from countries that have once been hostile to Russia. He claimed such calls echo statements heard eighty years ago from central Europe, describing them as coming from nations already regarded as adversaries. Peskov urged readers to recognize that hostility sometimes blinds judgment.
“Terry nationalism” and unlearned lessons
Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, criticized Kallas’s remarks as another act of hostility toward Russia. She described the stance as towel nationalism, centuries old in origin, now unmasked by the current political moment. Zakharova argued that Europe has failed to pursue meaningful resolution of the Ukraine crisis in recent years, calling the move part of a broader policy of anti-Russia sentiment.
She urged Europe to decide what kind of world and what kind of Europe it represents: a union based on shared standards, human rights, rule of law, and equality before the law, or a space driven by xenophobia and an exclusionary mindset. She added that this is a matter for the NATO framework to reflect on, not a problem solely for Russia. On her Telegram channel, Zakharova later cited several foundational international agreements to support freedom of movement, including the Helsinki Accords and related OSCE commitments. She argued these instruments guarantee the right to move and reside within states and to leave and return to one’s own country, alongside provisions enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights.
“Nazi nonsense”
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of the Russian Security Council, labelled Kallas’s statement as Nazi nonsense. He cited a controversial quote suggesting that visiting Europe is a privilege rather than a right, and he posted remarks about responsibility for actions in the region. In a later Telegram post, he compared Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to a historical figure associated with punitive aims toward Russia’s population.
About Estonia’s chances of becoming a state
Vladimir Dzhbarov, deputy chairman of the Federation Council International Committee, commented on the Estonian leadership’s stance by suggesting that historic claims to Estonian land trace back to imperial era conflicts. He asserted that the territory once belonged to the Russian Empire and argued that Estonian sovereignty is tied to centuries of shifting borders. His remarks implied that Estonia’s status could be questioned in light of historical revisions.
“Relapse of racist thought”
Dmitry Novikov, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Relations, condemned the idea that visiting any country is a privilege as a revival of racist thinking. He argued this view should be rejected by the international community, including policymakers in the United States and Europe, and suggested it would be met with strong disapproval from European and American representatives.
Contradictions with EU and EC
A representative of the European Commission, Anita Hipper, noted that EU visa policy does not allow a blanket halt to short-term visas. Individual EU member states retain the authority to decide on cases. The EC described ongoing discussions with member states about visa policies but declined to comment on specific positions. Reports from unspecified EU officials, later echoed by a Financial Times piece, indicated skepticism within EU leadership about a total ban on Russian travel to the bloc. A EU spokesperson reportedly stressed the importance of allowing those who oppose military action in Ukraine to continue traveling within Europe.