Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis suggested abolishing tourist Schengen visas issued to Russians at the EU level.

The German government had earlier submitted for discussion a draft EU decision to ban the issuance of Schengen visas to Russian citizens as part of the next sanctions package. The Latvian parliament adopted a statement calling on the EU countries to stop issuing visas to citizens of Russia and Belarus. Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said that Estonia would close the border to Russian citizens with Schengen visas issued by the republic. Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anušauskas said earlier that EU countries are unlikely to come to a common agreement to ban visas for Russians, but this is not a reason for Vilnius to give up.

The best thing would be if it were a European solution, which would simply cancel these visas and everyone would stop issuing them, Lietuvos rytas portal cited Landsbergis.

According to the Lithuanian minister, a common solution at the EU level is necessary because now a citizen of Russia can get a visa at the German consulate in any city where there is one, and go through Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania or Poland to any place he wants to vacation.