UK warns Ireland has become a back door for Russian spies
Photo: MEP Barry Andrews (facebook.com)
British officials have warned Ireland that, due to its liberal visa policy, the country has become a back door for Russian spies seeking entry into the United Kingdom, reports The Telegraph.
What is the problem?
Irish Member of the European Parliament Barry Andrews said that British officials had personally warned him about the number of visas Dublin has issued to Russians. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ireland has granted 14,000 visas to Russian citizens, with an approval rate of 90%.
"So people come to Ireland, we don’t really have the surveillance capacity the UK does," Andrews noted.
Why is it dangerous?
Ireland is a member of the Common Travel Area along with the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. This means that anyone who gains entry to Ireland also gains access to Britain without additional checks.
The Schengen Area introduced restrictions on Russian citizens after Russia invaded Ukraine. Ireland is not part of Schengen and does not have its own strict screening measures.
'Ireland is in the crosshairs'
Ireland will assume the EU presidency in July, and according to Andrews, this makes the country even more vulnerable. Other states holding the presidency have already experienced airport disruptions and attacks on infrastructure that have been linked to Russia.
"Ireland is in the crosshairs and I think it’s the right time for us to have a proper X-ray of granting visas to Russians and Belarusians," the MEP stressed. He also called for checks of applicants' social media accounts and in-person interviews.
The issue is not new. In 2024, The Sunday Times reported on a criminal investigation involving an Irish parliamentarian suspected of maintaining secret contacts with Russian intelligence.
In 2022, Ireland expelled four senior Russian diplomats who were suspected of ties to the GRU and of conducting intelligence activities under diplomatic cover.
