Albania cancels visa-free entry for tourists from Russia

Albanian border police checking a passport (archive) 

 Albania has abolished visa requirements for citizens of the Russian Federation who want to visit the country for tourism purposes. The decision was made during a government meeting on Thursday, where the list of states whose citizens benefited from such a measure was reviewed. This list, approved in 2022, included 8 countries and provided visa-free entry every year for periods ranging from April 20 to December 31. For three of these countries, including the Russian Federation, visa-free travel for tourism purposes included a shorter period from May 1 to September 30.

On its official website, the Embassy of Albania in Moscow later posted an "urgent" notice, informing of the decision of the Albanian Government and explaining that "a visa application must be submitted for travel to the Republic of Albania in accordance with the purpose of travel".

On Friday afternoon, the decision of the Albanian Government was reflected on the Facebook page of the Russian Embassy in Tirana, addressing "citizens of the Russian Federation who intend to visit Albania," and explaining that their state "is excluded from the list of countries whose citizens can travel visa-free from May 1 to September 30". In other words, to visit Albania during this period, as well as the rest of the year, Russian citizens must apply for an Albanian visa according to the purpose of their travel. In a later post, just before midnight, the Russian embassy announced that there would be a reaction on Saturday morning.

Last year, after approving the decision allowing Russian citizens to enter Albania without visas for tourist purposes, Prime Minister Rama defended his stance during a press conference, stating that he did not believe it needed to be reconsidered.

On May 3rd, during a video conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Albanian parliament that "you need to limit the arrival of Russian tourists because you cannot know who is coming to you, perhaps assassins or maybe militants from Mariupol or perhaps one of those who are working today to undermine your country," he emphasized.

Two days later, Prime Minister Edi Rama gave his explanation regarding the visa-free regime for Russian tourists: "Our decisions are in line with the decisions of the European Union. There is no coordinated decision of the European Union, and as long as there is no decision, we are continuing on the same path as in previous years. If there is a coordinated decision, we will coordinate with the European Union," the Prime Minister stated at the time.

A few months later, in the summer of last year, the European Union suspended the 2007 agreement with the Russian Federation, which offered facilities for the travel of Russian citizens in the territories of the member states and in the Schengen area.

Albania has supported Ukraine from the beginning by condemning Russian aggression, supporting sanctions against Moscow, and being an initiator of strong resolutions and positions against Russia, with the United States as co-sponsors, at the United Nations Security Council. Albania has also provided military and food assistance to Ukraine.