On Tuesday, the Czech Republic announced it is restricting entry for individuals holding Russian diplomatic and business passports, marking what it claims to be a first for the EU, driven by security concerns.

The European Union is considering limiting the movements of Russian diplomats within the Schengen area, which allows free travel among member states.

Prague has consistently advocated for tighter controls on Russian diplomats following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“We have enacted a ban on entry for holders of Russian diplomatic and business passports at our international airports,” stated Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky during a press briefing.

He noted that Russians with credentials issued by Prague would still be permitted entry, emphasizing that this policy does not affect diplomats from the Russian embassy in the Czech Republic.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Daniel Drake informed AFP that the ban took “immediate effect” and pointed out that Prague is the first EU member to implement such a measure.

Lipavsky further indicated that his country would persist in advocating for comprehensive restrictions across Europe and the Schengen zone.

He mentioned that this European measure would “help address our security issues, as [Russia’s] diplomatic network conceals networks of agents that threaten our safety.”

The Czech intelligence agency BIS noted in its 2024 annual report that “Russia has continued efforts to expand its espionage networks operating under diplomatic guise.”

As a member of both the EU and NATO, the Czech Republic, with a population of 10.9 million, has been providing humanitarian and military support to Ukraine since the onset of the Russian invasion.