Russia's Embassy on Norwegian Border Restriction: "Discriminatory"
The Russian Ambassador to Norway, Teimuraz O. Ramishvili, at the Kirkenes Conference in 2022, the day before Russia invaded Ukraine. (Photo: Trine Jonassen)
On Wednesday, May 29th, the border between Russia and Norway will be closed to Russian tourists. The Russian embassy says the decision is discrimination of ordinary Russian's interests.
The Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security has decided that Russian citizens are to be denied entry to Norway for tourist visits or other non-essential purposes. The change will come into force from May 29th.
In a commentary from Russia's embassy in Norway, it is revealed that the decision is considered discriminatory:
"We consider the decision by the Norwegian authorities as yet another unfriendly and politically motivated measure. New discriminatory restrictions will affect the interests of ordinary Russians. We believe such measures only discourage people from visiting Norway and taking an interest in its culture. Perhaps this is the goal," the embassy writes on Facebook.
The restriction applies to both those who have visas issued by Norway before visa practices were further restricted in the spring and summer of 2022 and to those with visas issued by other Schengen countries.
