Sikorski urges European countries to close Russian consulates

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has urged European countries to close Russian consulates, reduce Russia's diplomatic staffing and restrict its diplomats' movements.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Sikorski said Poland had already taken those steps and no longer hosted Russian consulates. He called on other European countries to follow its example, RBC reported.

Sikorski also proposed requiring Russian travellers entering the European Union to hold biometric passports. He argued that this would make it harder for alleged Russian agents to cross borders under false identities. That is the minister's rationale, rather than an allegation against every Russian traveller.

He backed reducing the number of tourist visas issued to Russian nationals. According to RBC's account, the Financial Times put the number issued by EU countries last year at almost 500 thousand.

The proposals come amid October 12 discussions in Luxembourg about possible restrictions on Russian diplomats' movements and tighter visa rules. Sikorski's appeal does not mean the measures have already been agreed by all EU member states.