Beginning in 2022, when Estonia’s Prime Minister at the time, Kaja Kallas, called for a moratorium on tourist permits for Russians, Russian nationals have been confronted with an increasing number of obstacles while attempting to enter Europe. It was her statement that “Visiting Europe is a privilege, not a human right” that established the precedent for a policy that is becoming more stringent across the European Union!
Over the course of two years, this perspective has developed into official Europe policy, and it is anticipated that Kallas will continue to advocate for it when she takes on the post of the leader of Europe’s foreign policy.
This “not-a-human-right” attitude has now resulted in repercussions that are now readily apparent. Because I am in possession of a resident card for Europe, I was able to travel around the continent of Europe this summer, seeing a total of 25 cities and six nations.
During the course of my tour, I encountered a large number of passengers from all over the globe; nevertheless, I did not encounter a single Russian traveler. Given the political context, Europeans often expressed astonishment when they saw someone from Russia and inquired how I was able to travel freely despite the predicament. It was easy to see why they were shocked; the majority of Russians are now virtually prohibited from traveling to Europe.
For the vast majority of Russians, going to Europe has become a significant obstacle that is almost impossible to overcome. The majority of the European Union nations have stopped issuing visas for tourists to Russian citizens, and those that continue to do so have dramatically increased the requirements for access. As a result of the application procedure being much more onerous, visa costs have increased by a factor of three, and refusals have become the norm.
The Schengen nations that border Russia have entirely shut their borders to Russian tourists, even if they have a valid visa. The direct flights connecting Russia and the European Union have been suspended since 2022, which has resulted in travel being prohibitively costly. As a result, tourists are now need to take detours via countries such as Turkey or Serbia.
The strictness of this visa requirement has had repercussions that extend beyond the tourist industry. Countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, and the Baltic states, which were formerly popular destinations for Russian students, have stopped providing student visas, which has resulted in a reduction in the number of educational possibilities available to young Russian professionals. People who were hoping to get an education or participate in cultural exchanges in Europe will no longer be able to do so.
It is the contention of European leaders that these actions are essential in order to demonstrate unity with Ukraine. In order to justify the suspension of visas for Russian nationals, many people have alluded to the conflict as the explanation.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, has even advocated for a full ban on Russians visiting Western nations. He argues that such isolation would compel Russians to reevaluate their administration and the policies it has implemented.
On the other hand, this method of isolating oneself might result in effects that were not intended and could be potentially harmful. These limitations run the potential of further entrenching authoritarianism in Russia, rather than encouraging opposition to Putin’s rule on the contrary.
When people are restricted inside a country that is headed by an authoritarian government that has been in power for a long time, the chance of revolt becomes very remote. On the contrary, a significant number of Russians are adjusting to life under Putin and embracing his authority as the new standard.
There is a clear indication of this transition among my own friends who made the decision to remain in Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. It is now possible for them to go to countries such as Turkey, China, and the Gulf states since European borders have been blocked. They often consume “Russified” copies of Western brands, such as Vkusno i tochka, which they consider to be the equivalent of McDonald’s.
Even in terms of intellectual capacity, there has been a discernible shift. Conversations have changed toward Eastern ideologies, and many people now talk of a “Eurasian future,” which embraces concepts espoused by the Kremlin as a counterbalance to the dominance of the West.
As a result of this new reality, the conflict with Ukraine has begun to become regular. The widespread concern that was caused by events such as drone assaults on the Kremlin or military incursions into Russian border areas has no longer been the case.
According to Zelensky’s prediction, the Russian people have acquired the ability to survive without Europe. On the other hand, rather than fighting Putin’s regime, they have adapted to living in isolation, therefore constructing a contemporary replica of the East German state inside their own nation.
Whenever this isolation persists for an extended period of time, it will become more challenging to reintegrate Russia into the global community after the conflict is over. It is possible that the aftermath will be similar to the challenges that East Germans had after the collapse of the Berlin Wall, which included sentiments of irrelevance and backwardness as well as a desire for identity.
There is a possibility that these attitudes may give birth to future conflicts in Russia, particularly among younger generations who are becoming more disengaged from Europe and Western ideas.
This seclusion is particularly difficult for young Russians, who are facing the brunt of its effects. A period of collaboration between Russia and the West occurred throughout the 2000s, which is the decade in which this generation was raised. Over the course of 2017-2019 and again in 2021, they spearheaded significant demonstrations against Putin in an effort to fight back against Russia’s authoritarian trend.
The children and teenagers in this country represent the nation’s greatest chance for a democratic future. However, the restrictive policies of the European Union are unwittingly bringing people closer to Putin’s sphere of influence. This is because the rules restrict their options for education, travel, and communication with the rest of the world.
Europe need to take into consideration starting conversations with young Russians rather than fully closing its doors. It is possible that a significant impact may be brought about by easing visa requirements for visitors and students. It would be beneficial for young people in Russia to be able to go to Europe, even if it were only for a short period of time. This would give them the chance to directly experience Western culture and to see the significant disparities that exist between living in Russia and life in Europe.
The modification of this policy might result in a number of significant repercussions. Initially, it would provide young Russians with the opportunity to experience better levels of life, which would make it more difficult for the Kremlin to persuade them that nations such as Iran or North Korea are viable examples to follow.
Second, it would provide students with a more nuanced perspective on democracy, one that is founded on actual life experiences rather than propaganda on the part of the state. At long last, it would provide young people from Europe with the opportunity to meet their counterparts from Russia, so challenging the unfavorable perceptions that have emerged over the course of the last several years.
Recent remarks made by Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, the leader of the Russian opposition who is now incarcerated, were made at a symposium in Slovenia. In her remarks, she attacked the European Union for not having a long-term plan for Russia. It was highlighted by her that the future of Europe is inextricably linked to the future of Russia, and that isolating the nation would only serve to prolong the situation. Europe might take a tiny but major step toward creating a bridge with the next generation of Russians by easing visa requirements and interacting with Russian youth. This would be a move that would be significantly beneficial.
When everything is said and done, the people of Russia cannot be disregarded. Regardless of whether or not Europe is pleased with it, it will continue to play a part on the international scene since it is a country that has a vast population and a significant amount of power. There is a possibility that a more peaceful and cooperative future may be fostered by engagement with regular Russians, particularly the younger generation.
The easing of visa requirements may seem to be a little gesture; nonetheless, it has the potential to pave the way for a more positive relationship between Europe and Russia after the conflict.