Politics · Other · 12 hrs ago
Latvian PM urges EU to stop issuing tourist visas to Russians
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs urged the EU to stop issuing tourist visas to Russians.
He said arrivals from Russia pose a direct security risk and contribute to growing hybrid warfare from Moscow.
The call concerns tourist visas for Russian citizens across the EU, not only Latvia.
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized Kulbergs, telling him to turn on the TV and see who she said was threatening Europe.
Her remarks came in response to his call for a visa halt.
The exchange highlights a dispute over security and Russian travel to the EU.
The sources do not say whether the EU will act on Kulbergs' proposal.
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs urged the European Union to stop issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens.
Kulbergs said arrivals from Russia pose a direct security risk and fuel increasing hybrid warfare from Moscow.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded by telling Kulbergs to turn on the TV and see who threatens Europe.
The exchange was reported on October 18, 2026.
- Who
- Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs called for the visa stop. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded.
- What
- Kulbergs urged the EU to stop issuing tourist visas to Russians.
- When
- October 18, 2026.
- Where
- The proposal concerns the European Union. Zakharova’s response was posted on Telegram.
- Why
- Kulbergs said Russian arrivals pose a direct security risk and fuel increasing hybrid warfare from Moscow.
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova
Security risk
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs
Kulbergs said the arrival of Russian travelers poses a direct security risk.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova
Zakharova challenged his view of who threatens Europe, saying he should watch television.
Visas
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs
Kulbergs called on the EU to stop issuing tourist visas to Russians.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova
Zakharova’s response did not state a position on whether the EU should stop issuing those visas.
Kulbergs called on the EU to stop issuing tourist visas to Russians, citing security risks and hybrid warfare.
Zakharova responded to Kulbergs in a Telegram post.
- Latvian prime minister
- Andris Kulbergs
- Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman
- Maria Zakharova
- Visa proposal
- Stop issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens across the EU
- Date reported
- October 18, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
Turn on the TV for Kulbergs - it shows who not in the future, but in present, not hybrid, but primitive, not threatening, but smashing the EU - EU citizens