Germany is pushing for stricter limitations on Russian tourist visas to the EU following recent sabotage incidents it attributes to Moscow. Berlin is investigating a Belarusian national over an alleged drone attack at Leipzig airport, highlighting concerns about the high number of visas issued.
The push for tighter visa restrictions highlights growing European security concerns over alleged Russian sabotage and espionage activities, potentially leading to significant changes in travel policies for Russian citizens and impacting diplomatic relations.
Germany is urging its European partners to implement stricter limitations on Russian citizens entering the EU on tourist visas, citing a recent escalation of sabotage attacks that Berlin attributes to Moscow. The call comes after German authorities began investigating a Belarusian national, who also holds a Russian passport, for an alleged attempt to attack Leipzig airport using drones and explosives. Security sources indicated the suspect entered the Schengen area on a tourist visa issued by the Italian embassy in Minsk.
German officials have voiced concerns that the high volume of tourist visas being issued to Russians undermines EU sanctions related to the Ukraine war and makes it difficult to track individuals' purposes for entering the bloc. Figures reveal that Italy issued the most Schengen visas to Russians and Belarusians in 2025, with Italy, France, and Spain collectively receiving three-quarters of all Russian visa applications. Italy's issuance of visas to Belarusian citizens saw a sharp increase, from 2,968 in 2021 to 50,709 last year. Similarly, visas issued to Russian citizens by Italy nearly tripled, rising from 63,894 in 2021 to over 165,000 in 2025.
In response to the alleged Leipzig plot, which German officials believe was likely orchestrated by Russian intelligence, Germany has closed the Russian consulate in Bonn, summoned the Russian ambassador, and intensified monitoring of Russia's "shadow fleet" of illegal oil-carrying vessels. The EU has also introduced its 22nd package of sanctions, expanding its list of banned Russian individuals. Italy's foreign minister has ordered an investigation into the visa issuance process for the suspect in the Leipzig case.
While countries like Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and the Czech Republic have largely ceased issuing visas to Russian citizens, several other member states continue to grant them in large numbers. Experts note that the current sabotage operations, potentially a response to Ukraine's strikes within Russia, aim to pressure Western support for Kyiv and probe NATO's weaknesses. Some anti-war activists suggest that Russian intelligence increasingly relies on remotely recruited individuals, often paid in cryptocurrency, rather than professional operatives, making traditional visa restrictions less effective.
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