The Czech government has banned entry into the country for holders of Russian diplomatic and service passports who are not accredited with the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs as members of a diplomatic mission.
The decision was announced by Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský.
According to Lipavský, the measure applies to international airports.
“Acts of sabotage are becoming more frequent, and we will not take risks with agents operating under diplomatic cover. We are setting an example for other countries, and I will continue to push for the most consistent measures at the level of the entire Schengen area. We will protect the Czech Republic,” the minister wrote.
It was also reported on Tuesday that Czech visa centers in Russia have ceased operations. The announcement appeared on the website of VFS Global, the company operating the visa centers. It stated that September 26, 2025, was the last day for visa applications at regional centers, and September 29 was the final day for submissions in Moscow. After this date, visa applications must be submitted directly to the Consular Section of the Czech Embassy in Moscow. No connection has been officially made between the closure of the visa centers and the new entry ban for diplomatic passport holders.
Shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Czech Republic almost completely stopped issuing visas to Russian citizens (with some exceptions). Since October 2022, Russian citizens holding regular (non-diplomatic) passports have been banned from entering the country. As the Russian-language Czech news outlet Vinegret.cz notes, the ban is more symbolic than practical. Russians are indeed denied entry to the Czech Republic if they arrive from non-Schengen countries (usually by being refused boarding), but there are no restrictions on entering the country from within the Schengen area. This means that Russian citizens holding Schengen visas issued by other countries can still enter the Czech Republic.
Meanwhile, Czech diplomacy under Lipavský has been pushing for EU-wide restrictions on the movement of Russian diplomats within the Schengen area. The proposal would limit their travel to the territory of the country where they are accredited. While this measure has not yet gained sufficient support, a softer version is under discussion — requiring Russian diplomats working in the EU to notify authorities in advance of any travel within the bloc. This was reported last week by Reuters, citing anonymous sources.
Parliamentary elections will be held in the Czech Republic on October 3 and 4. The current government maintains a tough stance toward Russia. According to polls, the parties in the ruling coalition are unlikely to win a majority, which could lead to a change in Prague’s policy.
