Foreign minister Jan Lipavsky of the Czech Republic, which currently presides over the EU, is going to raise the matter of the ban on issuing EU visas to Russian citizens, reports Politico.

“We are convinced as a government that halting visas for ordinary Russian citizens gives a very clear and straightforward signal to Russian society,” Lipavsky said adding that Russians “should realize that such a militant policy has consequences.”

“We are trying to explain to our partners that the approach is justified and effective,” the Czech FM said.

He also argued that a visa ban could help “decrease the influence of the Russian secret service in the EU.”