A Russian tourist bus at the Nuijamaa border post on July 28, 2022 in Finland (AFP / Alessandro RAMPAZZO)
At the Nuijamaa border post near the Finnish town of Lappenranta, busloads of Russian tourists are pouring in, some to enjoy the Nordic summer, others to travel elsewhere in Europe.
Although the Nordic country applied for NATO membership after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it is the only EU country bordering Russia to still issue tourist visas to Russian citizens.
“I’ve been traveling here for 12 years,” Boris Sourovtsev, a 37-year-old St. Petersburg resident, told AFP as he waited to cross the border. “It’s a beautiful country with nature and lakes”.
After the European Union closed its airspace to Russian flights, Finland also became a rare transit country for Russians subsequently wishing to fly to other destinations in the EU.
With the lifting of Covid restrictions by both countries in recent weeks, the passage of Russians has become much easier, leading to growing frustration on the Finnish side.
– Proposals to Parliament –
“It’s not good that Russians can travel freely in Finland. It takes away all the logic of sanctions,” said Kirsi Iljin, a resident of Lappenranta.
Russian tourists arrive at the Nuijamaa border post on July 28, 2022 in Finland (AFP / Alessandro RAMPAZZO)
In solidarity with Ukraine, Finland’s conservative party has proposed stopping granting new tourist visas to Russians, with broad support looming in parliament.
“The situation is unbearable,” said Jukka Kopra, an MP from the National Coalition party. “Ukrainians are being killed, including civilians, women and children, and at the same time Russians are spending their holidays in the EU,” he told AFP.
Aki Lindén, the Social Democrat leader who takes over Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s vacation duties, expressed his support.
“Personally, I think the restrictions need to be tightened,” he told AFP.
The question is complicated by the high number of existing visas, nearly 100,000.
“Alternatives are being considered,” according to the Finnish Foreign Ministry.
Russian tourists arrive at the Nuijamaa border post on July 28, 2022 in Finland (AFP / Alessandro RAMPAZZO)
Other Schengen countries bordering Russia – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland – have already taken restrictions on Russian visas.
Moscow “will react very negatively” if Helsinki imitates them, Kremin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.
– Passage way –
Since Finland lifted its Covid restrictions at the border in late June and Russia eased its own in mid-July, the number of Russian tourists crossing into Finland has steadily increased, jumping from 125,000 in June to more than 185,000 in July.
Customs officers inspect vehicles of Russian tourists at the Nuijamaa border post on July 28, 2022 in Finland (AFP / Alessandro RAMPAZZO)
In July alone, more than 10,000 tourist visas were issued to Russians, according to Finnish media.
On the Russian side, the bus companies of Saint Petersburg say they are running at full speed with Helsinki, especially since the train connecting the two cities has been interrupted because of the sanctions.
“In recent weeks it has been systematically full. People want to take advantage of an easier passage,” Sergei Ivanov, of the Balt Car company, told AFP.
Especially since the planes for Istanbul or Belgrade, another access route still possible for Europe, reach very high prices.
If the Finns display a strong solidarity with the Ukrainians, the purchases of Russians passing through are an important resource for the border towns here.
Local traders are taking a very dim view of seeing Russian tourists disappear again, barely returned after two years of Covid.
“It’s the most absurd idea there is. What do they gain by isolating simple Russian citizens?” Plague Mohamad Darwich, the boss of Laplandia Market, a sign located a few minutes from the border. “They cause a huge problem for locals and business.”
Russian Boris Sourovtsev at the Nuijamaa border post, July 28, 2022 in Finland (AFP / Alessandro RAMPAZZO)
If the history of the two countries has been heavy, the inhabitants of the border areas have traditionally had close contacts. But things changed with the Covid and then the war.
With his five-year visa in Finland, Boris Sourovtsev used to visit the country up to ten times a year. But he fears it is coming to an end.
“I would be very sad and disappointed. I hope the war will end soon,” he says.
© 2022 AFP
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