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EU presidency backs visa ban for Russian citizens

The Czech Republic, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, on Friday (August 12) backed the proposal for an EU-wide visa ban for Russian citizens, the Anadolu Agency reported.
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said in a statement: “The flat halting of Russian visas by all EU member states could be another very effective sanction.”
His remarks lend support to a push by Estonia, Latvia and Finland for all EU states to stop issuing tourist visas to Russians and prevent other means to circumvent the ban.
Estonia’s top diplomat Urmas Reinsalu said on Thursday that he would present an official proposal to the Council of the European Union, chaired by the Czech Republic.
Lipavsky confirmed he will include the proposal on the agenda of the EU foreign ministers’ informal meeting in Prague on Aug. 31.

He said: “In a time of Russian aggression, which the Kremlin keeps on escalating, there cannot be talks about common tourism for Russian citizens.”
If adopted, the new sanctions will send a “very clear and straightforward signal to the Russian society,” he added.
The Czech Republic’s stance does not come as a surprise since it was the first EU country to suspend visas for all Russians, with the exception of humanitarian cases, right after the war in Ukraine began on Feb. 24.
Germany rejects calls for EU ban on tourist visas for Russians
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had earlier suggested the measure as a way to ramp up diplomatic pressure on Moscow.
“Visiting Europe is a privilege, not a human right,” Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said earlier this week.
However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected the idea on Thursday, stressing that “it is (President Vladimir) Putin’s war” and that sanctions should not harm innocent people.
Nigerian students badly treated at Ukraine border, President's office says
The EU has slapped seven sets of sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine war, targeting, among others, Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The measures also include economic sanctions such as banning gold, oil and coal imports and export of luxury goods, as well as excluding Russian and Belarusian banks from the SWIFT international payment system.
Source: aa
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Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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