Ukraine became independent from Soviet rule in 1991, like many other Soviet republics. Ukraine took advantage of the chaotic situation in Moscow, and Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, adopted the declaration of independence on 24 August 1991. In December of the same year, a referendum was held in Ukraine, and citizens across the country voted in favour of independence. This year, Independence Day is being marked under highly unusual circumstances. President Zelenskyy even warned of possible Russian actions to spoil Independence Day. For security reasons, no large-scale celebrations are being held this year. In Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, for instance, Independence Day celebrations have been cancelled. There have also been suggestions that Russia might put Ukrainian soldiers on trial specifically on Independence Day.
The war has affected the everyday lives of Ukrainians and civilians alike. More than 5,500 civilians have already died in the war, children are wounded or killed at a rate of about five per day, and nearly 9,000 soldiers have died. Ukrainians are losing family members and their homes, and for everyone, life has changed – if not permanently, then in fundamental ways. Shouldn’t the lives of Russian civilians change too? The recent debate over visas has left Ukrainians bewildered. The United States, for example, is not imposing a blanket visa ban on Russians, despite Ukraine’s request. According to the US, the escape route out of Russia for dissidents, among others, should not be closed.
Finland has not stopped issuing visas altogether. However, obtaining a visa in Finland has been slowed down and made more difficult. So far, about a thousand tourist visa applications have been received per day. The change will take effect at the start of September, after which only half of the current number will be accepted – that is, 500 applications per day. Of those 500 applications, however, as many as 100 could be tourist applications. Currently, half of the thousand daily applications are tourist visas.
The visa question as a geopolitical tool – what should be done?
Tourist visas will be pushed to the back of the queue, with priority given to family, work, and study visas. However, Finland’s measures will have limited impact as long as the United States continues accepting visa applications. Suspending the visa facilitation agreement between Russia and EU countries would, for the time being, affect the price of tourist visas in Russia. The price of visas would roughly double. However, this would have no effect unless the EU joins in. Finland is proposing, together with the Baltic states, that the visa facilitation agreement be suspended. The current tourist visa fee of 35 euros would rise to 80 euros after the change.
The thoughts of Finland’s government – and certainly of its citizens too – are firmly with the Ukrainian people. There is a wish to send a strong moral message to Russian citizens that Russia is waging an illegal war of aggression, which is widely condemned. At a time like this, Russians should not have the right to live as they did before. The war has restricted the mobility of Ukrainians in many ways.
Ukraine needs solidarity, sympathy, and action. It is Finland’s and Europe’s duty to impose various restrictions on Russia that also affect ordinary citizens. Right now, the war is not visible enough in that sense. It isn’t right that Ukrainian civilians are suffering mercilessly while, at the same time, the EU is full of Russian tourists. Beyond solidarity and sympathy, Ukraine needs material and military support.
Iris Nordman, Secretary of JEF Turku