The European Union (EU) is asking Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as a candidate country to introduce visas for citizens of the Russian Federation.

"We expect BiH, as a candidate country, to fully align its foreign, security and trade policy with EU policies. In order for the visa-free regime with the EU to work well, BiH is expected to fully comply with the EU visa policy, which does not provide for a visa-free regime with Russia", the EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed for Radio and Television of the Republika Srpska (RTRS ).

The EU refers to a report published in December 2022 which states that Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to meet the criteria for visa liberalization with the Schengen area, but recommends that Bosnia and Herzegovina "as a matter of priority align its visa policy with the list of third countries countries that require EU visas, especially those third countries that pose a risk of irregular migration or a risk to the security of the EU".

The European Commission's Progress Report indicates that BiH should introduce visas for Russia, noting that BiH also has a visa-free regime with Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Turkey.

"BiH does not issue visas at the border. In order to have a well-functioning migration system in a safe environment, the country must respect the visa policy of the EU", the report states.

Reacting to the EU's request to introduce visas for citizens of Russia, the Russian embassy in Sarajevo assessed that the EU "places too many demands on Bosnia and Herzegovina".

In a statement delivered to the RTRS, they state that the existing Agreement on Visa Free Regime provides favorable conditions for the development of relations between the two countries.

"We are convinced that the current legal framework primarily corresponds to the interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an open country that the EU is trying to turn into a colony," said the Russian embassy in Sarajevo.