Czech Foreign Ministry again proposes to restrict the movement of russian diplomats through Schengen
Kyiv • UNN
The Czech Republic will once again propose to restrict the movement of russian diplomats in the Schengen area to combat the threat of russian intelligence and espionage activities in Europe.
The Czech Republic will again propose to restrict the movement of russian diplomats in the Schengen area. This was stated by Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, UNN reports with reference to Euractiv.
Details
Commenting on the arrest of two agents in Germany on suspicion of collaboration with russia, espionage and planning attacks, Lipavsky said he wants to raise the issue of russian agents at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on Monday.
The threat of russian intelligence in Europe is a reality. We must develop new tools to combat the russian spy threat. At the meeting, I will repeat my proposals for deterring russian spies moving through the Schengen area. This can be achieved quickly
The publication reminds that the Czech Republic has already proposed to restrict the movement of russian agents in the EU in the fall of 2023, and although the Foreign Ministry did not want to comment on the current negotiations on this issue, not all countries support the Czech proposal so far.
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As Euractiv Czechia has learned, some countries are concerned that the proposal could violate Schengen rules and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations - although Czech diplomatic sources confirmed to Czech media in November 2023 that Prague would like the EU to agree to restrict the movement of Russian spies in the Schengen area.
Context
In 2022, the European Union decided that russian diplomats could no longer benefit from visa facilitation provisions that gave them privileged access to the EU. However, they can still obtain visas and travel to Schengen countries.
According to the Czech proposal, russian "diplomats" or secret agents under diplomatic cover who come to Europe for a short time will not be allowed to enter any EU country except the one for which they have been issued a visa.
Another option is to make biometric passports mandatory for Russian diplomats at the EU level, as they are harder to fake.
Recall
Last week, German federal prosecutors arrested two men in Bavaria who are suspected of spying for russia and planning attacks on military targets to undermine support for Ukraine.
