Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) Chief Vasyl Hrytsak said on Sept. 2 that he is in favor of criminalizing visits to Russia by Ukrainian legislators and other, unspecified public figures.
If enacted, such a proposal would create criminal liability for Ukrainian politicians who travel to so-called “aggressor states.”
The statement came one day after the Presidential Administration moved to establish blanket biometric passport checks on foreigners entering Ukraine, set to begin on Jan. 1, 2018.
“I support the presidential initiative (of biometric control), I would go even further — I would introduce a legislative ban and criminal responsibility for visiting aggressor states by (Ukrainian) lawmakers, public figures,” Hrytsak told the journalists on Sept. 2.
The rules stipulate that citizens of countries which pose risks to Ukraine will either have to show a biometric passport or provide biometric information – like fingerprints – to the authorities when crossing the border.
The list of so-called migration risk states will also be updated to include the Russian Federation, as per the Cabinet of Ministers. Inclusion on that list will mean that citizens of Russia would have to notify Ukrainian border control officers of their intent to visit Ukraine before arrival.
