New restrictions take effect on Russian diplomats’ movement in the EU
New restrictions limiting the freedom of movement of Russian diplomats within the European Union come into force on Sunday, as part of broader efforts to counter espionage and disinformation activities.
Under the new rules, Russian diplomatic and consular staff, along with their family members, must inform the authorities of destination and transit countries at least 24 hours before traveling outside their host country within the Schengen area. Travel inside the country of accreditation remains exempt from notification.
EU member states may also introduce authorization requirements for entry or transit, allowing them to deny travel if security concerns arise. According to EU officials, failure to comply with these obligations could result in the withdrawal of diplomatic accreditation.
The measures were formally adopted in October as part of a sanctions package targeting Russia and later published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Brussels justified the decision by citing concerns that some diplomats have been involved in intelligence-related activities, including espionage and the spread of disinformation linked to the war.
Until now, Russian diplomats generally enjoyed unrestricted movement across the EU. Several eastern member states had long criticized this arrangement, while others previously feared that tighter rules could lead to retaliatory measures against European diplomats stationed in Russia.
