Issuance of national cards to citizens of Russia and Belarus does not endanger security of Schengen zone: Hungarian Foreign Ministry

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó defended the idea of issuing “national cards” for Belarusians and Russians. Allegedly, this poses no risk to Europe, reports DW.

 

According to the Hungarian Foreign Minister, the issuance of “national cards” to applicants from Russia and Belarus “does not pose a risk to the security of the Schengen area.”

 

According to Szijjártó, Russians and Belarusians will continue to be “subjected to thorough checks when entering and staying in Hungary.”

 

At the same time, the Hungarian foreign minister accused “colleagues from Northern Europe and the Baltic states” of a “campaign of lies” against Budapest. According to him, this campaign includes any allegations about the absence of such inspections.

 

Earlier, Hungary included Russians and Belarusians in the so-called “national card” program.

 

Thus, those Russians and Belarusians who receive such a card will not be subject to special checks when entering the country.

 

Following Budapest's decision, Lithuania filed a complaint with the European Commission. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said that such a move could threaten the security of the entire European Union.