The Swiss Federal Council has completely suspended the simplified visa regime with Russia. This is reported by TASS with reference to a government statement.
“For citizens of Russia, the usual visa procedure will again apply. Thus, the Federal Council takes the same decision as the European Union, and thus contributes to a common visa policy throughout Europe.”
The EU supported a complete halt to the visa facilitation agreement for Russians from 12 September. Russian citizens will now face longer and more expensive EU visa procedures. However, "students, journalists, dissidents and representatives of civil society" of Russia will be provided with more favorable conditions for issuing visas. The EC clarified that now EU countries are not recommended to issue multiple-entry visas with a long validity period to citizens of the Russian Federation.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, some EU countries have stopped issuing visas to Russian citizens: the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have joined the restrictions. Denmark and the Netherlands have stopped issuing short-stay visas. Finland has reduced the issuance of tourist visas to Russians. German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock said that it is important not to take away the opportunity to leave the Russian Federation from those who "have the courage to oppose the regime."
