Sanctions against Russia
58 Commons Library Research Briefing, 22 March 2023
Visas
Visa free travel for Russia diplomats has been stopped and Russian officials
and businesspeople will no longer benefit from visa facilitation provisions,
allowing privileged access to the EU.
On 9 September 2022 the EU Council of Ministers also agreed to suspend the
visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Russia. All Russian citizens
will now be subject to an increase in visa application fees, will be required to
present additional documentary evidence and will be subject to more
restrictive rules on the issuance of multiple entry visas.
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Russian aircraft, shipping and road transport
On 27 February 2022 European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen,
announced that all Russian aircraft would be banned from EU airspace,
including those of Russian oligarchs.
On 8 April, and in line with prohibitions already introduced in the UK, vessels
registered under the flag of Russia will be prevented from accessing EU ports.
Some exemptions will exist for vessels carrying agricultural and food
products, humanitarian aid and energy products.
The EU also announced a ban on any Russian or Belarusian road transport,
thereby preventing the transportation of Russian goods by road within the EU.
Exemptions have been made for certain items, such as humanitarian aid,
pharmaceutical and medical products.
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Russian media
Various state-owned media including RT and Sputnik have been banned from
the EU, effective as of 2 March 2022.
On 3 June the EU also announced that three additional Russian state-owned
media outlets: Rossiya RTR, Rossiya 24/Russia 24 and TV Centre International
would also be prohibited from broadcasting in the EU in response to their use
by the Russian Government to "manipulate information and promote
disinformation about the invasion of Ukraine, including propaganda, with the
aim to destabilise Russia's neighbouring countries and the EU and its member
states".
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Council of the European Union, Press release, 9 September 2022
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Council of the European Union, Press release, 8 April 2022
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Council of the European Union, Press release, 3 June 2022
