The Estonian government has decided to make border crossing rules stricter for Russian citizens working in diplomatic and consular missions, writes ERR News.
The amendments to the law approved on January 22 were submitted by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the initiator of the initiative, Estonian Foreign Minister Magnus Tsahkna, the new rules equate the country’s legislation with the European Union’s 19th package of sanctions against Russia.
The draft law stipulates that Russian diplomats, consular employees, administrative and technical staff of diplomatic missions and their family members will have to obtain permission before crossing the external border of Estonia.
It also clarifies which persons must warn Estonian authorities in advance of their plans to travel
or transit through another EU country to which they are not accredited, no later than 24 hours before the trip.
The Russian Embassy in Tallinn will have to submit a request for permission to the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at least five days before the person’s planned entry into the country. The decision on permission or prohibition to cross the border will be made no later than one day before the planned trip.
The new rules will come into effect on the 25th of January.
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