Czech Republic reportedly pushing to restrict Russian diplomats’ travel throughout E.U.

E.U. countries are discussing a proposal by the Czech Republic to restrict travel by Russian diplomats throughout the Schengen zone, whose policies Prague says has made it easier for intelligence agents to move undetected.

According to the Financial Times (FT), the Czech government sent out a document containing ideas for such a restriction to be included in the bloc’s 12th sanctions package against Russia.

Under the plan, Russian diplomats would receive visas and permits that only allow them to travel within their country of residence rather than throughout the entire Schengen zone. Czechia also wants them to be required to use biometric passports.

“There are agents of [Russia's Military Intelligence Directorate] GRU and other services arriving in Czech territory. It is very complicated in Schengen to control this,” an E.U. diplomat told the outlet.