Greece, together with Spain and Italy, has vetoed the discussion on a complete suspension of visas for Russian citizens to the EU. According to Athens, a total ban on Russian tourists would not harm Moscow but would negatively impact Greek tourism, which is a leading economic sector in the country, reported BNR’s correspondent in Greece, Katya Peeva.

According to an analysis by the National Bank of Greece, each Russian tourist spends on average over EUR 1,300 during their stay, while European tourists limit their expenses to around EUR 600 per person.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the number of Russian tourists in Greece has decreased, but those who do visit tend to spend more money. Additionally, many Russians of Greek origin travel to Greece to visit relatives. Athens does not wish to cut off the opportunity for Russian citizens to visit their relatives.

Moreover, the opposition in parliament has called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to further ease the arrival of Russians of Greek descent.

Amendments to Serbia’s Criminal Code foresee up to one year in prison for participating in blockades, Serbian media report, as cited by BTA.

"We are introducing a new offense, which is the blockade itself — entering the road, etc. No one is sent directly to prison; there is a judicial process that takes place", Justice Minister Nenad Vujic said for Serbia’s national broadcaster RTS.

According to him, through the blockades, some citizens violate the right of movement of others. The proposed changes come amid ongoing protests in Serbia that have lasted for months. They were triggered by the collapse of the railway station canopy in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, which resulted in fatalities and injuries. The incident occurred following a major reconstruction of the building, completed in March 2022. The public and the opposition have blamed the government and state institutions for a lack of control and potential corruption in the awarding of public contracts.

Türkiye considers mandatory psychological evaluations before marriage

Representatives of Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) have announced plans to introduce mandatory psychological evaluations before marriage, due to the rising rates of domestic violence and divorces, reported the website Türkiye Today, cited by BTA.

Under the proposed regulations, couples would undergo a pre-marital psychological assessment and obtain a suitability certificate before being allowed to marry. According to AKP representatives, this measure would help identify tendencies toward violence, psychological disorders, or socio-economic incompatibilities at an early stage, in order to prevent future marital problems.

A counseling mechanism is planned to help identify potential problems early and provide guidance during the marriage, as well as support couples post-wedding to address conflicts and prevent unnecessary divorces, wrote Türkiye Today.

Published and translated by Kostadin Atanasov

Photos: forter.ro, visitgreece.gr,  EPA/BGNES, Pexels