Germany Proposes Further EU Restrictions on Russian Tourist Visas Following Sabotage Attempt

Germany is seeking to further reduce the number of tourist visas issued to Russian citizens, a proposal that EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas stated has received wide support among EU governments. German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Martin Giese said that tourist trips cannot continue in the same format because there is no normalcy while Russia wages an aggressive war. Germany has already reduced the issuance of short term Schengen visas to Russians tenfold, dropping from approximately 330,000 in 2019 to about 27,000 in 2024.

The push for tighter controls follows a German accusation that Russia attempted to sabotage a Ukrainian An-124 cargo plane at Leipzig Airport using drones with explosives. German authorities have identified two suspects with Russian ties, including one individual with Belarusian and Russian citizenship. Reports indicate that the suspect may have entered the EU using an Italian tourist visa, prompting Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to promise a review of the issuance. In response to the incident, Germany announced the closure of the Russian House in Berlin and the Russian consulate general in Bonn, ordering staff to leave within seven days.

While Germany seeks a broader EU agreement to minimize risks and prevent the circumvention of controls, current statistics show a disparity in how member states handle applications. In 2025, EU countries issued 620,000 Schengen visas to Russians, an increase of 10.2 percent over the previous year, with nearly three quarters of applications going to France, Italy, and Spain. The Kremlin has described Germany's actions as a path of further escalation.