It could be recognized as the Kremlin’s version of Western sanctions and it’s easier to deploy. Just stop Russian tourist flights for countries that have transgressed and are out of favour with the Kremlin.
Since Russia sees the behaviour of Greece and Bulgaria as unacceptable recently, it has blockaded its tourists from visiting destinations that have over the recent years become attractions for hundreds of thousands of Russian tourists.
Statistics reveal that the Russian government has significant control over the choices it citizens make for travel. In fact it approaches the Soviet version which had total command over who travels, where. Some 500,000 Russians visited Greece and 450,000 traveled to Bulgaria in 2019. Today the count is practically zero. Russia has simply withdrawn permission from travel companies packaging flights to these destinations.
Observers are convinced that the travel restrictions are not associated with the Corona pandemia. Both Greece and Bulgaria have infection rates much lower than Russia. In addition both countries have agreed to allow entrance to all who have been vaccinated with the Russian produced vaccine, Sputnik V, that has yet to be approved by the European Union.
(Pikemalt saab lugeda Eesti Elu 25. juuni 2021 paber- ja PDF/Digilehest)
