Russian Diplomat Accuses France of 'Hypocrisy' Over Visa Policies

A sharp diplomatic exchange has flared over European travel, with Moscow accusing Paris of dishonesty in its handling of visas for Russian citizens. Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, issued the criticism in an official statement.

Her remarks targeted a recent announcement from the French Embassy in Moscow, which noted an increase in visas issued to Russians. Zakharova dismissed the claim, arguing it presents a misleading picture. She pointed out that the European Union suspended a simplified visa agreement with Russia in 2022, a fact she says French officials conveniently omitted.

"Statements from French diplomats about the 'great importance their embassy attaches to exchanges between our countries' sound hypocritical," Zakharova said. "This is coming from representatives of a state that has severed business, scientific, educational, and humanitarian ties with Russia."

The controversy follows observations from some Russian travel commentators, who have identified France as currently being one of the more accessible Schengen-area destinations for Russian applicants, even for those with limited travel history or unemployed status. This practical reality now clashes directly with the political rhetoric, highlighting the complex and strained state of EU-Russia relations as they play out in consular offices.