Syrian entry ban

Estonia Warns of Russian Veteran Flood, Urges EU Entry Ban with War Crimes Scrutiny

Estonia’s Foreign Minister is advocating for an EU-wide entry ban on former Russian soldiers who fought in Ukraine, citing security concerns and the potential for increased criminality. Estonia already implemented a ban on 261 Russian fighters and now seeks a coordinated approach across the bloc due to the potential influx of nearly one million combatants. The current methods for identifying and banning individuals are deemed too slow and reliant on individual countries. While Estonia’s proposal faces challenges, particularly in listing individual fighters and providing evidence, it is driven by reports of increased crime linked to returning soldiers from the war.

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Egypt Bans Syrian Entry: Fear of Arab Spring Contagion

Egypt has further restricted Syrian entry, barring all Syrian nationals except those with temporary Egyptian residency permits. This follows a previous ban targeting Syrians with Western residency permits and Schengen visas, requiring pre-approval for entry. The move comes amidst a large, albeit unregistered, Syrian population in Egypt and recent restrictions on Palestinians entering from conflict zones. These actions reflect Egypt’s heightened security concerns. The discrepancy between Egyptian and UN figures regarding the Syrian population remains significant.

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