Photo : REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo
19 August 2022, Friday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #284
IN FOCUS
Visa ban on Russia: Who imposed, what is the impact
By Sai Pranav
Which EU member states have imposed the visa ban?
On 18 August, Estonia announced the ban on entry of Russians who hold, the Estonia issued Schengen visa for purpose of tourism, business, sports or culture. Following Estonia’s visa ban, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and the Czech Republic imposed restriction on Russian tourists. The reason behind Finland and the Baltic states imposing a ban is due to huge influx of Russians. Since the west sanctions levied on Russians restricting their air and rail travel, the Russians began using the bordering countries, Finland and the Baltic States as gateway to fly into Europe. Although Schengen visas provided to Russian stand invalid, the humanitarian visas given to the dissidents are another way to get into Europe. Another reason for Finland and the Baltics to levy the ban is to target the Russian oligarchs from vacationing in Europe, while the war continues.
How is the ban affecting the Russians?
First, impact on wealthier Russians. The oligarchs who were using the Schengen visas are either the supporters of Russia’s president Vladimir Putin or investors of European market trying to safeguard their savings. Although the travel ban targets those who come for recreational purposes, those who want to seek refuge might be endangered due to the strict restrictions.
Second, the isolation of Russia. The remained Russian population will be ostracized by the Europeans with entry ban. With such border restrictions, Russia is now being pushed to change its national policy and reduce the intensity of war Ukraine. Such steps will make the Russians to strive against the government upon the restrictions of their freedom of expression and to move across Europe.
Why does Germany’s stance differ?
Germany which is one the major player in Europe has opposed the visa ban by Finland and the Baltics on Russian tourists. Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that the ban on visas for Russians will cause more burden to those who oppose Putin’s policies and the war. Since Germany considers the position of the vulnerability of the Russian people, it stands against the EU-wide visa ban.
References
“Estonia's Russian tourist visa ban enters into force on August 18”, ERR news, 18 August 2022
"Finland and Estonia call for EU ban on tourist visas for Russians," euronews, 09 August 2022
"Germany's Scholz supports Russian refugees coming to EU," Deutsche Welle, 15 August 2022
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "Government limits issuing of visas to and entry into Estonia of Russian citizens," vm.ee, 11 August 2022
"Number of Russians Applying for Schengen Visas Soars Amid Banning Threats," Schengenvisainfo, 15 August 2022
Andrew Roth, "'The west doesn't want Russians partying in the streets of Europe': calls grow for a visa ban," The Guardian, 13 August 2022
"UN Opposes Estonia's Decision to Ban Visas for Russians," Schengenvisainfo, 15 August 2022
War in Ukraine: Day 176
By Padmashree Anandhan and Rishma Banerjee
War on the Ground
On 17 August, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant said that Ukraine’s nuclear scientists and the IAEA are in constant touch and are working towards sending the IAEA mission to the plant soon. He insisted Russia to withdraw from the plant completely to ensure safety.
Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba spoke with the US secretary of the state, Antony Blinken and discussed further arms supplies to Ukraine. Kuleba thanked for support from the US, but urged for more arms for Ukraine’s forces to reduce the war intensity. He also said that more military aid would be the ‘best investment’ for the long-term security of Europe.
On 18 August, Russian troops launched a missile attack on Kharkiv’s Slobidskyi District. Two of the missiles hit a tram depot and damaged a repair shop and a dormitory. Due to the strike, 10 civilians were killed and 18 injured. Other than in Kharkiv, Zelenskyy reported on intense fighting in the Avdiyivka and Bakhmut.
On the same day, Prozorro a state-owned company that runs transparent electronic auctions for the government sale, the CEO said that Ukraine was considering the launch of its mass privatization initiative from 01 September. As a part of the initiative, Ukraine has planned to privatize more than 100 state assets. This was due to the shift of population from Ukraine’s south and east to the west, which faces a shortage of real-estate. As the government has spare property to sell in these areas, privatization of the same is expected to stimulate business activity.
The Moscow View
Claims by Russia
On 18 August, president Vladimir Putin in a phone conversation with Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo. They discussed the global food security and Russia’s efforts in signing the Turkey-UN mediated grain deal to stabilize the current situation.
Russia’s defence ministry claimed that 53 ships from 14 countries were still stuck in Kherson, Nikolayev, Chernomorsk, Ochakov, Odessa, and Yuzhny ports in Ukraine. On the food exports, he reported that until now, 563,318 tonnes of food had been exported from Ukraine and so far more than 90 militants in Kharkiv were killed. Lieutenant general Igor Konashenkov said that a temporary base of foreign mercenaries had been hit with “a ground-based high-precision weapon,” as a part of the operation.
A member of the military-civilian administration of the Zaporizhzhya region, Yevgeny Balitsky said that only one reactor at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant was operational. He alleged that while Ukraine still receives about USD one million worth of power per day from the plant, artillery bombardments still continued.
MiG-31 fighters with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles have been sent to the Chkalovsk air base in the Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad. The warplanes which have a range of up to 2000 kilometres will be on round-the-clock duty. This move comes as a part of “additional measures of strategic deterrence” to improve the security in the region.
On 17 August, Russia’s Vedomosti newspaper cited a letter sent by the Federal Trade Union of Air Traffic Controllers about the state for the air control staff in the country. The letter mentioned that over half of Russia’s air traffic control staff was currently on temporary leave or had been dismissed because of the international sanction on Russia. As many western countries had closed their airspaces for Russian aircraft, leading to decreased demand for staff, pushing for lay-off or temporary leave.
The Jewish Agency, which coordinates the movement of Jews across the world to Israel said that Jews in Russia are migrating out of the state in large numbers. Since March, around 20,500 of Russia's estimated total of 165,000 Jews have left the country in fear of persecution.
The West View
Responses from the US and Europe
On 18 August, Slovakia’s defence minister, Jaroslav Nad stated that Slovakia’s government will continue to provide military support to Ukraine and expressed an interest to send their MiG 29 fleet for EUR 300 million. However, a Bratislava-based think tank, GLOBSEC said that as per a survey, only half of the respondents were in favor of Slovakia sending arms to Ukraine. Nonetheless, Nad claimed that Russia’s propaganda was to change the attitudes of the population to stop Slovakia’s military assistance. He added: “This government certainly decided to continue in that because we need to help Ukrainians - they deserve that - and we very much understand what occupation means.”
Also on 18 August, Estonia's economic affairs and communications ministry said that Estonia was subject to an extensive cyberattack in 15 years. Close to 200 state and private Estonian institutions were targeted in the attack. However, authorities could repel the attack and most websites remained fully functional throughout the day. Killnet, a Russian Hacker group claimed responsibility for the attacks and said that it was in response to Estonia removing a Soviet-era Tu-34 tank from display in Narva.
European Commission which had adopted a temporary crisis framework on 23 March 2022, later amended in July as a measure to help its member states economy affected by the Ukraine war. The framework initially aimed to compensate those companies impact from the crisis situation such as sanctions and incurring of additional cost such as electricity and gas. But due to the extremities of war, it will now provide set more schemes for increasing investments in renewable energies, such as hydrogen, biogas and renewable heat with simple processes. The new framework also covers supporting the decarbonizing of “industrial process for promoting energy efficiency. Upon Germany and Spain adopting the provision given in the framework, the European Commission approved the ammendments.
The Global Fallouts
Implications of the Ukraine war
On 18 August, a military spokesperson of Myanmar, Zaw Min Tun said that they had received permission to import petrol from Russia after junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing’s discussion with Russia’s authorities. Amidst a growing energy crisis and rising prices, Myanmar’s military government has set up a Russian oil purchasing committee to oversee the buying, importing and transporting of fuel oil, which are due to arrive from September. Min Tun said that, Myanmar will also consider joint oil exploration exercises with Russia and China.
On the same day, the Japanese foreign ministry announced to donate JPY one billion to Moldova. It is to assist the country in dealing with the massive inflow of Ukrainian refugees. It will provide extra equipment for diagnosis, surgical and artificial lung ventilation gear will be provided for five medical facilities in Chisinau.
In a trilateral meeting held between Zelenskyy, Erdogan and UN Secretary general, discussed on how UN’s grain exports was helping stabilize the food crisis, and appreciated the efforts of JCC on monitoring the ship exports. Antonio Guterres expressing his concerns on tensions over Zaporizhzhia’s nuclear power plant, urged for an agreement to install a civilian infrastructure and ensure no military operation took place. He announced the establishment of the fact-finding mission, to gather and analyze information and appointment of General Santos Cruz to lead the mission.
References
“Only absolute transparency and controlled situation at and around ZNPP can guarantee return to normal nuclear safety – address of President of Ukraine.” President.gov.ua, 17 August 2022
“Kuleba, Blinken coordinate further arms supplies from U.S., other partners,” Ukrinform, 17 August 2022
“Death toll in Russia’s missile strike on Kharkiv dormitory rises to 10,” Ukrinform, 18 August 2022
Aleksandra Klitina, “Over 100 State Assets to be Privatized in September,” Kyiv Post, 18 August 2022
“Telephone conversation with President of Indonesia Joko Widodo,” Kremlin.ru, 18 August 2022
“Over 50 foreign ships still blocked in Ukrainian ports — Russian Defense Ministry.” TASS, 18 August 2022
“Dozens of foreign fighters eliminated in strike on Ukrainian base – Russia,” RT, 18 August 2022
“Only one reactor at Zaporozhye NPP currently in operation — region’s authorities,” TASS, 18 August 2022
“Russia expects IAEA experts to visit Zaporozhye NPP soon,” TASS, 18 August 2022
Vladimir Isachenkov, “Russia deploys hypersonic missiles to its Baltic exclave,”, AP News, 18 August 2022
“Half of Russia’s Air Traffic Control Staff Furloughed or Fired – Vedomosti.” The Moscow Times, 17 August 2022
Aleem Maqbool, “Ukraine war: Thousands of Jews quit Russia amid fears of persecution,” BBC, 17 August 2022
“Russian anti-war protesters in Cyprus defiant after 'memorial collage' threat,” Reuters, 18 August 2022
Johannes Pleschberger, “Slovakia's plan to sell fighter jets to Ukraine divides a nation,” Euronews, 18 August 2022
“Estonia hit by cyberattacks after Soviet memorial removal,” Deutsche Welle, 18 August 2022
“Daily News 18 / 08 / 2022,” European Commission, 18 August 2022
“Myanmar to import Russian oil, military says,” Reuters, 18 August 2022
“Japan to donate Moldova $7.4 mln in support of Ukrainian refugees — Foreign Ministry,” TASS, 18 August 2022
“Grain deal ‘victory for diplomacy,’ UN chief tells journalists in Ukraine,” news.un.org, 18 August 2022
“Temporary Crisis Framework,” European Commission, 18 August 2022
“Secretary-General's remarks to the Press at Lviv, Ukraine Press Conference [as delivered],” UN Secretary General, 18 August 2022
IN BRIEF
By Sai Pranav
GERMANY
High producer prices add more trouble to Germany’s economy
On 19 August, Germany’s finance ministry announced that the economic prospect looked sombre for the country due to soaring energy costs and longer-than-expected supply chain disruption. The producer prices also went high due to energy price rises. The August report by the ministry stated that the month was looking to be highly uncertain. Other factors such as the war in Ukraine, China’s zero-COVID policy and lower supply of gas from Russia have also contributed to the 8.5 per cent inflation in the month of July. The energy prices had increased up to 105 per cent in July when compared to 2021. As a countermeasure for the increased energy price, taxes on gas was reduced from 19 per cent to seven per cent. (“Record jump in German producer prices adds to gloomy outlook,” Reuters, 19 August 2022)
THE UK
Labour party demands a freeze on energy costs
On 18 August, the UK government’s opposition, Labour Party, requested to recall the parliament to discuss energy price caps as the country deals with the worst cost-of-living crisis with the winter looming ahead. The Labour party asked the government for freezing the energy coast and not let them rise any further. It promised to do the same if it was in power and would compensate for the expense by extending a windfall tax on oil and gas companies. Johnson faced criticism over his leadership guiding the country through the surging energy costs. The UK’s citizens are concerned over a lack of nationalised plan to avoid poverty hitting them. (“UK opposition Labour Party wants parliament recalled over energy price cap,” Reuters, 19 August 2022)
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Twitter sued over failure to report on its internal complaint mechanism
On 18 August, EURACTIV reported that Twitter was discovered to be violating Germany’s content moderation rules by a German non-profit organization called HateAid. HateAid filed a complaint to the Federal Office of Justice that Twitter failed to report on its internal complaint mechanism as required by the Network Enforcement Act. Its lack of transparency in implementing countermotion procedures can make users forcibly complain about an account for a second time after 100 users had already reported the same account. The complaint against the social networking provider was a precursor of how to behave when the Digital Service Act comes into effect. (Laura Kabelka, “Twitter accused of violating German content moderation rules,” EURACTIV, 18 August 2022)
REGIONAL
Fresh EU-mediated talks between Serbia and Kosovo results in disagreements
On 18 August, the EU-mediated negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo in Brussels ended up as a failure. According to the EU foreign policy head Josep Borrell, the discussion between Serbia’s president Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo’s prime minister Albin Kurti to reach a solution over the current disputes about the licence plate and northern Serbian minorities in Kosovo was not the end. He said that their talks would continue after a few days. Serbia’s state media confirmed that their president is thinking of holding an emergency meeting with leaders of the Serbian minority from Kosovo in Belgrade. (“EU-mediated talks fail to settle tensions between Serbia, Kosovo,” Deutsche Welle, 18 August 2022)