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Polish Interior Minister signs decree to restrict entry for Russians

19.09.2022 18:35
Poland’s interior minister on Monday signed a decree to limit entry of Russian citizens through the Polish borders.
Mariusz Kamiński
Mariusz Kamiński PAP/Piotr Nowak

Mariusz Kamiński announced the move on Twitter, the businessinsider.com.pl website reported.

Kamiński said in a tweet: "Today I have signed a decree further restricting entry to Poland for Russian citizens. It follows an a agreement between Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia."

The interior minister added: "Only wide-ranging, hard-hitting sanctions can strike firmly at [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's regime."

'Restrictions on entry for tourism, cultural, sporting or business purposes'

The decree puts restrictions on Russian citizens seeking to enter Poland "for tourism, cultural, sporting or business purposes," Polish state news agency PAP reported.

Under the new regulation, Russian nationals won’t be allowed to cross into Poland for these purposes from outside the European Union.

Deputy Interior Minister Bartosz Grodecki told PAP on Monday that the restrictions on entry for Russians would apply “to all border crossings and, from September 26, also to airports and seaports." 

“These measures have been developed in cooperation with the Baltic states,” Grodecki added.

Poland, Baltics impose visa restrictions for Russian citizens

Earlier this month, Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Lithuania’s Ingrida Šimonytė, Latvia’s Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš and Estonia’s Kaja Kallas signed an agreement to turn away most Russians seeking to enter the European Union's passport-free Schengen area "for tourism, cultural, sporting or business purposes," from September 19, Poland's Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW) think tank has reported. 

The four PMs described the influx of tourists from Russia a “serious threat” to national security amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Monday is day 208 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

(pm)

Source: PAP, businessinsider.com.pl