DISINFO: Discussions about a ban of Schengen visas for Russian citizens is nationality-based discrimination like in Nazi Germany
SUMMARY
The idea of the ban of Schengen visas for Russian citizens is nationality-based discrimination. It is similar to the case when in Germany, after 1933, signs appeared “Juden sind hier unerwünscht” (“Jews are not wanted here”). Today’s discussion about visas is like a European sign “Russians are not wanted here”.
RESPONSE
Recurring manipulation comparing the European Union to Nazi Germany.
A decision to ban Schengen visas for Russian citizens has not been made yet. It will be a topic of discussion at a meeting of the EU foreign ministers in Prague at the end of August 2022.
The argument for the ban on visas for Russian citizens is based on the statement of the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas, that “visiting Europe is a privilege, not a human right”. These words were said in the context of the ongoing Russian military invasion of Ukraine. The idea of the ban on visas was also supported by Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenskyy. His argument was that Russians should “live in their own world until they change their philosophy.”
Kremlin-backed disinformation outlets quite often use non-argument comparisons to Nazism and similar historical parallels. See more examples in our previous cases: Limited military operation liberates LPR from the Ukrainian Nazi rule; Nazism is one of the highest European values; The West and Kyiv exterminated Russians in Ukraine and built a Nazi state.