Poland is considering reintroducing visa requirements for citizens of Armenia, Georgia, Venezuela, and Colombia as part of a broader national security response to escalating threats posed by Russian and Ukrainian spy networks; the proposed shift in entry policy comes amid a series of recent arrests linked to foreign espionage and sabotage activities within Polish territory, prompting Warsaw to reassess its border controls and seek exemptions from standard Schengen travel rules; authorities argue that increased vulnerabilities tied to organized crime and foreign intelligence infiltration justify a tightening of visa-free travel arrangements; according to Polish media reports, the proposed changes—still under internal government discussion—may affect nationals of countries such as Georgia, Venezuela, Colombia, and Armenia; these developments follow a series of incidents involving suspected foreign espionage activities, leading Warsaw to reassess its visa and border control policies; while formal announcements remain pending, sources within Poland’s interior ministry suggest the proposed visa reinstatement is part of a broader strategy to mitigate security risks associated with foreign criminal networks and intelligence operations; the move underscores growing anxiety in Warsaw about potential threats linked to individuals from select countries that do not currently require visas or are in the process of negotiating eased travel access; notably, citizens of Armenia are not part of any visa-free agreement with the European Union and must already apply for visas to enter Poland and other Schengen Area states; despite this, Armenia was included in a list of countries reportedly under review, raising questions about the rationale for its mention, particularly given ongoing EU-Armenia negotiations over potential future visa liberalization; reports cited by Polish media claimed a rise in criminal activity linked to foreign nationals, including alleged involvement by organized groups from Georgia and other countries; however, these claims have not been substantiated with official crime data, and the inclusion of Armenia remains controversial in light of its international safety record; the timing of Poland’s consideration coincides with the fallout from recent arrests of dozens of individuals allegedly collaborating with Russian intelligence; among those detained were citizens from Russia, Ukraine, and other countries, in connection with suspected sabotage and espionage; these incidents have amplified Warsaw’s drive to reassess entry procedures and identify vulnerabilities at its borders; under current EU regulations, Schengen member states cannot unilaterally impose visa restrictions on citizens of countries covered by shared visa-free agreements; however, exceptions can be requested in specific cases involving national security or public order concerns; Poland’s efforts would likely involve lobbying at the EU level to secure approval for targeted restrictions; the broader context includes Poland’s consistent advocacy for more stringent migration controls within the EU; the country has been among the leading voices pushing for tougher external border protections and tighter regulations around illegal migration and asylum policies; meanwhile, Armenia continues to pursue its long-term goal of achieving visa-free travel to the EU; the country has been in talks with European institutions to advance its visa liberalization agenda, which would require meeting a range of technical, legal, and political benchmarks; any change in Poland’s stance could complicate or delay these efforts, depending on the outcome of discussions within the EU; contrary to allegations that Armenia is a high-risk country in terms of crime, independent global indexes suggest otherwise; in the 2025 Crime and Safety Index published by Numbeo, Armenia was ranked as the 8th safest country worldwide, a position it has maintained consistently; while Numbeo’s rankings are based on public perception rather than official police data, the index is widely referenced in academic, journalistic, and policy circles; additionally, the U.S. government classifies Armenia as a low-risk destination for travelers, assigning it the highest safety rating among countries in the South Caucasus; the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) also records a low intentional homicide rate for Armenia—2.13 per 100,000 population in 2021—significantly below the global average, though higher than Poland’s rate of 0.68 recorded in 2022; Poland is moving to tighten entry rules for Armenia, Georgia, Venezuela, and Colombia amid growing security concerns tied to Russian and Ukrainian espionage threats; the proposed visa restrictions follow a wave of spy-related arrests and aim to strengthen national border controls; despite heightened geopolitical sensitivities and evolving security dynamics, no final decision has been made on Poland’s potential visa policy revisions; discussions are expected to continue in coordination with EU partners, as Warsaw seeks to balance national security imperatives with its obligations under European law.

By Appo

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