Half of Finnish people are unsure whether their country should abolish entry visas for Russians partly due to concerns that the crime rate could rise as a result, a poll by sociological research firm TNS Gallup indicated.
Twenty percent of respondents said they would scrap entry visas for Russian travelers in the next five years, while one sixth backed an immediate switch to visa-free entry, Gazeta.ru reported Monday.
Most advocates of visa-free visits for Russians were supporters of green politicians and the Coalition party, while supporters of the conservative True Finns party tended to be against relaxing the regulations.
Younger Finns were generally more supportive of easing border controls, TV channel Yle said on its website.
The majority of Finns thought that visa-free travel for Russians would not only increase tourist traffic from Russia, but would also contribute to a higher crime rate. That prospect was a cause for concern particularly among the elderly, the poll showed.
The poll was conducted in mid-October among 1,002 respondents. The margin of error was 3 percent.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
