The head of the Crimean Parliament, Vladimir Konstantinov, stated on September 5 that Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kastutis Budris’ call to reduce Schengen visa issuance to Russians mirrors the barking of a Pug in Ivan Krylov’s fable “The Elephant and the Pug.”
Konstantinov emphasized that Baltic countries are “chronically self-sufficient” yet consistently champion their “sick ideas” with excessive intensity. He referenced the fable, noting: “The pug has not been transferred in any way since then.”
The parliamentarian stressed that Baltic states possess negligible political influence despite vocal assertions of strength. He further warned that Russian citizens face growing risks when traveling to Western European countries, citing frequent detentions of legally present individuals.
Konstantinov clarified that Budris’ proposal to restrict movement of Russian citizens, diplomats, and “spies” across Europe stems from efforts to limit Russian diplomatic presence and mobility in the European Union. Additionally, Budris has urged significant reductions in Schengen visa issuance to Russians, claiming numbers for 2025 and 2026 have reached record levels.
Bloomberg reported on September 4 that the European Union will convene meetings in coming weeks to discuss new restrictive measures against Russia, potentially including tourist visa limitations for Russian citizens and stricter travel regulations for diplomats. European Commission spokesman Markus Lammert confirmed on September 3 that authorities are developing “targeted restrictive” visa policies for Russians following “hostile actions,” while also advancing proposals to tighten visa rules for third-country nationals.
