Latvia calls for visa ban on Russians

Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs links travellers to escalating hybrid threats from Moscow

The Latvian prime minister has called for EU countries to stop issuing tourist visas to Russians as a means to prevent future "hybrid" threats, as Moscow escalates pressure on the bloc through non-conventional warfare.

"Don't freaking let Russians travel to Europe," Andris Kulbergs told the FT in an interview.

The former businessman, who was made caretaker prime minister in May following the collapse of the previous government, was elected prime minister this month with 35 per cent of the vote on a pro-European platform.

He vowed to revive economic growth and strengthen security in the Baltic state -- which shares a border with both Russia and Belarus -- but is still pulling together a coalition after falling short of an outright majority.

"How the hell can we still have visas available to Russians, who are the aggressors, who are the orchestrators, [when] the theatre of hybrid threats is coming definitely from there and we're still passing on visas, just because that makes some countries money? Come on," Kulbergs added.

France, Italy and Spain have historically been among the biggest issuers of Schengen visas to Russian citizens, accounting for more than 70 per cent of the more than 600,000 visas issued to Russians in 2025, according to the European Commission. These countries have resisted a tourism visa ban for fear of losing tourism revenue.

But an incident at Leipzig airport in August involving an explosive-laden drone that Germany blamed on Moscow, and for which authorities are investigating a Belarusian citizen with a tourist visa issued by Italy, led to calls by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and others to ban the practice.

A discussion on visas is under way among EU countries. This week, France said it would restrict access to former Russian soldiers; one senior diplomat said Paris would "substantially restrict" visa issuance to Russians. Rome is open to dialogue, diplomats said.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday that leaders discussed reducing visas issued by EU countries to Russian citizens during an EU leaders' meeting in Brussels on Friday.

"A very large number of visas are still being issued to Russian citizens entering the European Union. There is certainly still room for us to take further action -- specifically to restrict both personal visits and business travel to the European Union," he said. "Russia needs to know that we won't leave something like this unanswered."

A drone attack on Bulgarian ships last week that left 11 sailors missing, and which Sofia said was probably linked to Russia, is the latest example of an escalating spiral of hybrid attacks, including many in Baltic countries.

Kulbergs said that Latvia was facing hybrid threats "daily", and that this year it would face the largest number of migrants pushing through its borders in five years. "That is a test of Nato and a test of our resilience," he added.

He said that without tighter border controls, Europe could face repeats of the novichok attacks used against Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the UK and on Alexei Navalny, the late dissident Russian politician. "Every country should be strict on this. That's prevention," he added.

During a summit in Brussels last week when EU countries negotiated the bloc's common budget from 2028, Kulbergs also called for more resources for countries on the EU's eastern border to deal with increased security threats.

"If Europe wants to feel safe, the Baltics, Finland, Poland, Romania have to have the safest border. If somewhere in the future things go sour somewhere else, that's where the focus and energy and financial means and resources should be devoted. There is no point over-defending Luxembourg," he said.

Latvia, which stands to lose about €500mn in agricultural subsidies and regional funding under the bloc's proposed budget compared with what it currently receives, is asking for €7bn in compensation for the "geographical punishment" of losing business and investment due to the proximity of Russia and Belarus.

"We're having 1.9 percentage points less GDP growth because of the effects of, as I call it, geographical punishment, which means we have less economy, less investment, less tourism, less certainty and [the] confidence of our local business and the eastern border is becoming empty and very fragile," Kulbergs said.

Baltic countries are also pushing for the European Commission to block Russian grain exports through their countries, as they are unable to do so at a national level without facing risk of legal sanctions. However, the requirement to maintain a free flow of food for international humanitarian purposes is likely to scupper such a motion.

Kulbergs said: "I'm saying we should not cut corners. What is the purpose of the sanctions? If the purpose is to stop Russia, so Russia does not have fuel for military might, we should execute them."

Latvia faces criticism for designating as persona non grata more than 150 Russian citizens, most recently journalist Leonid Ragozin.

"We've been 50 years under occupation. We've seen what the bear eats, thinks and how it lives. It is always lies," he said. "I think Europeans are naive and they never listen to Baltics. Finally, our voice is heard."