Concerns Raised Over Russian Visa Issuance in Ireland Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict
‘Hostile’ agents may be among 14,000 Russians granted Irish visas in four years
Image: The Irish Times
Since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022, Ireland has issued over 14,000 visas to Russian citizens, raising alarms about potential 'hostile' intelligence agents entering the country. MEP Barry Andrews urges a review of this policy amid ongoing conflict.
- 01Ireland has approved 14,247 visas for Russian citizens since 2022, with a refusal rate of only 3.2%.
- 02Dublin MEP Barry Andrews has called for a review of the visa process due to security concerns.
- 03Most visas granted are short-term, allowing stays of 90 days, while over 2,700 long-term visas have also been issued.
- 04Andrews proposed a lifetime visa ban for Russian soldiers involved in the Ukraine conflict, a measure under EU consideration.
- 05Since 2022, more than 2,100 visas have been issued to Belarusian citizens, raising similar concerns.
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Ireland has granted over 14,000 visas to Russian citizens since the onset of the Ukraine war in 2022, with almost 97% of applications approved. This has led to concerns from Dublin MEP Barry Andrews, who has requested a review of the visa issuance process, suggesting that it may allow 'hostile' intelligence agents to enter the country. The number of visa applications from Russians declined during the COVID-19 pandemic but has risen again, albeit not to pre-pandemic levels due to stricter EU regulations. Most visas issued are short-term, with 11,548 being valid for 90 days and 2,700 long-term visas allowing work or study. Andrews also highlighted the need for safeguards to prevent misuse of these visas, particularly regarding travel to the UK, and mentioned a potential EU-wide lifetime visa ban for Russian soldiers involved in the conflict, which is set to be discussed at the upcoming European Council meeting.
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The issuance of visas to Russian citizens raises security concerns within the Irish community, particularly among Ukrainians.
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