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Spain’s doors open to Russian citizens, foreign minister says

Spain's Foreign Minister has said that Russian citizens are welcome in Spain despite the EU's suspension of its visa agreement with Russia, as the mass exodus of thousands of people continues following Putin's conscription call.

Published: 28 September 2022 12:29 CEST
Spain's doors open to Russian citizens, foreign minister says
Albares at a Foreign Affairs Council meeting at the EU Council building in Luxembourg on June 20, 2022. Photo: JOHN THYS/AFP

Spain’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, has stated publicly that Spain’s doors are open to Russian citizens fleeing the country.

Speaking on Monday, Albares said that Spain is “totally favourable” to Russian citizens who “share our values.”

Speaking against the backdrop of mass protests in Russia against Putin’s mobilisation of thousands that has caused a mass exodus to the border, Albares reaffirmed that Spain is “aware that there are many people who do not want this war,” and that “Europe has nothing against Russian citizens.”

After the European Union suspended the visa agreement signed with Moscow at the beginning of September, he was keen to make clear that this did not mean Spain was closed to Russians fleeing Putin’s regime. “The decision was made not to block completely… [for] people who are opposing the war, the members of NGOs, the defenders of human rights, the journalists who are risking their lives…”

READ ALSO: Spain sends 200 tonnes of military material to Ukraine

In light of the visa suspension, Spain will return to a system of individual interviews on a case-by-case basis.

“It’s not that there is suddenly an avalanche of Russian citizens and we don’t know who is entering,” Albares said, quelling security fears, “that’s why it’s going to be analysed on a case-by-case basis.

“Those who speak our language, those who reach out to us, those who share our values have to have a place among us,” he added.

As for the illegal referendums the Russians are attempting to undertake in annexed territories, Albares aligned himself with his European colleagues and claimed that the results would not be recognised by Spain or any other EU member state. 

He also confirmed that a new set of economic sanctions is being put together in Brussels, and that “there is no real indication” Putin is considering the use of nuclear weapons or will stray from conventional war methods.

Spaniards should, he added, not be “distressed” about this possibility. 

READ ALSO: How much influence does Russia have over Spain?

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POLITICS

Wife of Spain’s PM investigated for corruption

A Madrid court said Wednesday it had opened a preliminary investigation into Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, on suspicion of influence peddling and corruption.

Published: 24 April 2024 11:04 CEST
Wife of Spain's PM investigated for corruption

In a brief statement, the court said it had “opened an investigation into the alleged offence of influence peddling and corruption in business against Begoña Gómez”.

It said the investigation began on April 16 and was “subjected to a secrecy order”.

It gave no further details but the statement was issued several hours after online news site El Confidencial published a story saying investigators were looking into Gomez’s ties to several private companies that ended up receiving funds and public contracts from the government.

It said the probe was linked to the alleged ties she had with Spanish tourism group Globalia, which owns Air Europa.

These are alleged to have taken place when the carrier was in talks with the government to secure a huge bailout after it was badly hit by the plunge in air traffic due to the Covid-19 crisis.

At the time, Gómez was running IE Africa Center, a foundation linked to Madrid’s Instituto de Empresa (IE) business school, a position she left in 2022.

El Confidencial said IE Africa Center had “signed a sponsorship agreement with Globalia in 2020” and that Gómez had also “held a private meeting with its CEO Javier Hidalgo at the company’s offices.

At the same time Globalia was negotiating a multi-million euro bailout with the government”.

In November 2020, Sánchez’s government offered a €475-million lifeline to Air Europa.

Asked about the story in parliament on Wednesday, Sánchez said he had faith in the justice system.

“On a day like today, after the news I’ve heard, despite everything, I still believe in Spain’s justice system,” he said.

READ ALSO:

Manos Limpias, which filed the complaint, is headed by Miguel Bernad, a lawyer who was sentenced to four years in 2021 for his role in a scheme to extort major companies.

But he was acquitted by the Supreme Court last month for lack of evidence.

Asked about the El Confidencial story in parliament on Wednesday, Sánchez said he had faith in the justice system.

“On a day like today, after the news I’ve heard, despite everything, I still believe in Spain’s justice system,” he said.

But the right-wing opposition Popular Party (PP) demanded explanations.

“It is imperative that the prime minister holds a press conference to explain,” Ester Muñoz, a senior PP official said.

“This family is being investigated by the court… it is important enough that the prime minister explains himself to the Spanish people.”

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