Maria Zakharova's Visa Canceled at the Request of the Baltic States

8th December 2024, 18:40

Joint pressure from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania prompted Malta to cancel the visa it had issued to Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian MFA.

According to the portal Meduza.io, Malta, the current chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), canceled a visa issued to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on December 5, just a day before the OSCE meeting in Valletta. Zakharova, who is on the EU, US, and UK sanctions lists for actively promoting Russia's aggression against Ukraine, was set to travel as part of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's delegation.

Already in 2023, under the chairmanship of North Macedonia, Lavrov had secured an invitation and airspace clearance from Greece and Bulgaria but did not land on EU soil.

Malta issued Zakharova's visa on December 5, but pressure from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania led to its cancellation. Malta's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that three Schengen states opposed Zakharova's entry. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna emphasized Estonia's strong opposition, citing Zakharova's active support for Russia's aggression. He called the attempt to grant an exception a "test" of EU sanctions and a potential weakness in the policy.

Zakharova, reacting to the decision, accused the West of "scheming" and labeled the visa cancellation unprecedented. The Russian Foreign Ministry declared that the Valletta event would draw attention to this issue and accused Western nations of exploiting the OSCE for their agendas.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna explained Estonia’s firm opposition to granting an exception. "Zakharova is on the EU sanctions list for a very clear reason—she actively supports and propagates Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Estonia, as one of the strongest supporters of Ukraine and effective sanctions policy, cannot accept such exceptions," he stated to Postimees.

Local Maltese media hinted that Estonia’s role in blocking Zakharova’s visa could be seen as retaliation for Russia vetoing Estonia’s bid to chair the OSCE. However, Tsahkna dismissed such speculation, emphasizing the principled stance against making exceptions for individuals on sanctions lists.

Russia has also blocked Estonia’s candidacy for OSCE chairmanship and sabotaged missions to Ukraine while refusing to pay membership dues. Next year, Finland will chair the OSCE.

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže attended the OSCE meeting in Malta despite the fact that her Baltic colleagues had decided to boycott the event due to Russia's Sergey Lavrov's attendance. Photo: Latvian Foreign Ministry

Diplomatic Protest as Six Nations Walk Out During Lavrov's Speech at OSCE Meeting

On the opening day of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) meeting, six nations—Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic—staged a protest by walking out of the hall during Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's address.

Those who stayed witnessed Lavrov’s combative rhetoric, including claims that Ukraine’s defenses, such as anti-tank weapons and barbed wire, represent a "reincarnation of the Cold War," with a heightened risk of escalating into a hot war. He also accused the West of using Ukraine to weaken and subjugate Russia on the battlefield.

Lavrov criticized the OSCE, describing it as ineffective in every domain, and expressed frustration over the last-minute cancellation of a visa for Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova by Malta, the event's host.

Malta’s Foreign Ministry disclosed to local media that Zakharova’s visa, initially granted by Malta, was rescinded under pressure from three Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Zakharova, who is on EU and U.S. sanctions lists for her role in promoting Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, had been set to attend as part of Lavrov's delegation.

The OSCE meeting in Valletta further highlighted tensions as Lavrov accused the West of using the organization for political purposes, exacerbating divisions between Russia and its critics.

Estonia’s Foreign Minister, Margus Tsahkna, and Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, continued last year’s boycott of the OSCE meeting by refusing to attend due to Sergey Lavrov’s invitation.

Unlike last year, the Baltic bloc did not fully boycott the event, as Latvia’s new Foreign Minister, Baiba Braže, attended. When asked why Braže chose to participate, the Latvian Foreign Ministry avoided a direct response, instead outlining her activities at the meeting.

The ministry highlighted Braže’s efforts in supporting Ukraine, including her advocacy for documenting Russian war crimes in Ukraine to hold perpetrators accountable. Braže also emphasized the need to make the OSCE’s support program for Ukraine more effective. Additionally, she discussed Latvia’s continued aid efforts with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

Braže participated in key sessions, including speeches by Ukraine and the United States, and engaged in bilateral and Nordic-Baltic meetings.

Poland’s former Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski, whose country barred Lavrov from attending the OSCE meeting during its 2022 chairmanship, reiterated his call to suspend Russia’s membership.

"Russia is destroying Ukraine and its own future. Until it stops this brutal war, its membership in the OSCE should be suspended," Sikorski told reporters during the Valletta meeting, according to AFP.

The divided Baltic approach to Lavrov’s presence at the meeting underscores ongoing tensions within the OSCE, as member states grapple with Russia’s role in the organization amid its ongoing aggression against Ukraine.