Belarusian said to have had tourist visa issued by Italy is investigated over alleged attempt to attack Leipzig airport
Germany is urging its European partners to introduce tighter limitations on Russian citizens entering the EU on tourist visas, after recent sabotage attacks which Berlin has blamed on Moscow.
German authorities are investigating a Belarusian national, who also holds a Russian passport, over the alleged attempt to attack Leipzig airport using drones and explosives.
The man is alleged to have entered the Schengen area on a tourist visa issued by the Italian embassy in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. Security sources said he did not appear to have ever travelled through Italy.
Germany’s foreign ministry has complained that too many visas were being issued to Russians.
Germany has actually been on board with this for quite some time. The reason is simple: It’s an easy way in and out of Russia with all pros and cons it has.
It allows people to move out of Russia, but it also allows Russian spies to enter (more easily). It causes Russia to (hopefully) be similarly permissive with visas, allowing journalists and also western spies to enter their country.
The problem only starts where Russia is much more aggressive in their actions than Europe, in other words actively exploiting the ‘deal’.