Montenegro's New Visa Rules for Russians Called 'Economic Suicide' by Opposition Leader

A Montenegrin opposition leader has branded his country's new visa requirement for Russian citizens an act of economic self-destruction. Milan Knezevic, who heads the Democratic People's Party, made the remark as the visa regime took effect on November 1, and it also covers citizens of Belarus and Turkey.

Knezevic argued the move further endangers Montenegro's tourist season and its GDP. He also warned that Russia would respond in kind with visas for Montenegrin citizens. In his view, Montenegro has chosen to continue an anti-Russian policy that will cost Moscow nothing but will be felt by those who carry it out.

He framed the decision against a wider backdrop, saying the world is awaiting geopolitical shifts as the presidents of Russia and the United States, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, push to end the conflict in Ukraine. According to Knezevic, Montenegro has instead opted to wage what he called an imaginary war against a state he described as a centuries-long protector and ally - a course he said amounts to fighting itself on instructions from the collective West.

The weight of Russian tourism is significant. Statistics office data show Russian citizens made 203,000 entries into Montenegro in 2025, 8 percent of all foreign arrivals, and accounted for 2,144,519 overnight stays, or 16.4 percent of the total by foreign visitors.

Russia's embassy said in July that the visa requirement proves Podgorica's dependence on foreign patrons seeking to damage Montenegrin-Russian relations, at a cost to the republic itself. Russian ambassador Alexander Lukashik has said direct flights to Podgorica will not resume while anti-Russian restrictions remain in place.

Visas are available through VFS Global centers in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk, Petrozavodsk, Pskov, Novorossiysk, Voronezh and Yekaterinburg, as well as at Montenegro's embassy in Moscow.