Overview
- The European Commission said all Schengen states agreed to restrict issuing new multiple-entry visas to Russian citizens.
- Switzerland’s migration secretariat said the decision is legally binding for Bern and takes effect upon entry into force on Saturday.
- Swiss authorities said multiple-entry visas may still be issued in duly justified individual cases, with exceptions for professional transport workers and for family members of EU, EFTA and Swiss citizens.
- Officials confirmed that already-issued visas remain valid and are not affected by the new restriction.
- Russian officials condemned the move, as Leonid Slutsky called it self-defeating and Maria Zakharova mocked Kaia Kallas’s “privilege” remark, while analyst Konstantin Kalachev argued the step is ineffective and could hurt Europe, citing Russians’ cash holdings near $100 billion.