Novaya-Europe’s Ilya Azar denied entry to Berlin to Riga flight despite having Latvian visa

Ilya Azar, a journalist for Novaya Gazeta Europe, was denied entry to a flight from Berlin to Riga, he said on his social media.

Azar says he has an active D-type Latvian visa which allows him to enter the country.

“They cited an IATA text which says that Russians are not allowed to enter Latvia, except those having A and C type visas. I told them that it was actually the other way around and they must have made a mistake, but they kept referring to the text and to some boss over the telephone,” Azar says.

In mid-September, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia agreed to restrict the entry of Russians with valid Schengen visas across land borders with Russia and Belarus. An exception was made for truck drivers, diplomats and those entering for family and humanitarian reasons. Finland and Poland have banned entry for Russians with short-term visas.

Starting 25 October, Russian nationals with tourist visas entering Czechia through the external borders of the Schengen zone will also be denied entry.