Just so we’re clear: a visa ban for Russian citizens is not a measure that will definitely and immediately topple Putin’s regime, no one actually believes that.
The current debate is about whether to recognise the collective responsibility of the Russian people, who for 22 years have been the passive accomplices of a regime that spreads fear and terror, and war.
The second question that all must answer, as it is no less important, is whether Europe is able to react to geopolitical upheaval.
A visa ban is a tool at our displosal that would achieve at least some of the desired effects — shake up the mellowing attitudes and provide a healthy dose of shock therapy to the comfortable elites of Moscow and St Petersburg.
There is a case to be made to start this process by only suspending category C visas, which allow visitors to stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days within a six-month period — the people from Moscow and St. Petersburg would actually feel this since they enjoy their lavish vacations in Europe and yet have so far failed to realise that their country is waging a genocidal war. It is because Putin has done everything he can to protect them from feeling the consequences.
Together with wealthy Muscovites, mercenaries wishing to spend their hard-earned cash for their war crimes in Ukraine will also be amongst those travelling into Schengen.
If the countries farthest from the external border with Russia do not understand this yet, they soon will, and, again, it will be too little too late.
Most of us on this side of the Union — on the external border we share with a terrorist sponsor state — are not too keen on repeating the “we told you so — you’re shocked and apologise” game we already played six months ago — we’d rather you’d listen. At least try to avoid the patronising arguments used to dumb down the actual debate — like, “Russians need to see the transformative power of democracy!”
Seriously?
Russian tourists don’t come to Europe for a lesson in democracy.
And isn’t it peculiar how the topic of visa bans brings out the “best” from the Russian disinformation machine — it is amusing to watch. I wonder why?
The majority of Russians, even the ones who do not enthusiastically endorse Putin, still believe Russia is a superpower, still believe Russia and Russians are superior to others and have the right to disregard international laws, borders and freedoms of others.
This is not about dissidents, but about people who don’t care what atrocities their country commits. They must be deprived of the right to cross international borders until they learn to respect them.