Member-only story
Do Europeans Hate Russians?— On the Ethics of Visa Banning
Many are fleeing Russia since the call for the partial mobilization of at least 300,000 Russians.
Turkey is a popular destination because Russians do not require a visa for entry. Serbia is experiencing similarly packed flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg since they too do not require a visa from Russian citizens. Flights to Armenia and Azerbaijan are also sold out.
Some are going to Finland — the last of its EU neighbor that allows Russians entry with a visa. So, how did we get to this point? And why are EU states restricting Russian entry?
For understandable reasons, many Russians do not want to die in a war that primarily only serves Putin’s interests. The average Russian citizen sees very little utility in killing Ukrainians over a line on the map (and, granted, natural resources that Donbas, Kherson, and other regions in Ukraine have to offer).
So, they make their way to regions that are close by in protest and to avoid mobilization.
As I mentioned above, some countries allow Russians entry without a visa. These include Turkey, Serbia (both are not in the EU, mind you), Armenia, and Azerbaijan.
EU Member states are a little less willing. Strict ties with Russian tourists and now migrants came from Poland…
