April 18, 2024

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Greece does not accept a vaccination certificate from Russian tourists

The Ministry of Tourism announced on Sunday that Greece will require a negative coronavirus test from all passengers arriving from Russia, even if they were vaccinated, due to the rapid rise in the number of cases in the Russian Federation.

According to the decision, published in the “Government Gazette”, all travelers arriving in Greece from Russia, starting from Wednesday June 30, must have the results of a negative PCR test or rapid test.

The measure related to the spread of the delta variant of SARS-Cov-2 in Russia applies to all travelers from this country, regardless of whether they were vaccinated or not.

Upon arrival in Greece, they will also have to undergo an examination.

Russian citizens can enter Greece if “they have a negative laboratory test result using a PCR test for coronavirus COVID-19 or an express test for coronavirus antigens (express COVID test). Citizens of the Russian Federation must be negatively diagnosed during a mandatory laboratory test using PCR or using an express test for the COVID-19 coronavirus antigen at the points of entry, staying in the control area until the test result is issued and with a mandatory time limit in case of a positive result. “

The reason is not named in the “Government Bulletin”, but, according to “RA”, this is due to massive sales fake certificates about vaccination and the impossibility of their verification, as, for example, it was done in the European Union.

However, most likely the reason is different – money and politics. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi admitted that the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine will never receive approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). He stated this on Friday, June 25, at a press conference following the meeting of European leaders in Brussels.

“We focused on the individual vaccines used and stated that the Russian vaccine has not yet been able to receive and may never receive EMA approval, and the Chinese vaccine that has not been applied for does not seem to meet the requirements for combating the pandemic, as the experience of Chile shows. “, – said Mr. Draghi (quote from “RIA News”). However, he did not explain the reasons for his assumptions about the prospects for the Russian vaccine.

After all, just a month ago, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis characterized Russian vaccine against COVID-19 “Sputnik V”, as effective and safe. He gave such an assessment to the drug during the application for the admission of Russian tourists.

However, it is not difficult to guess, the Russian vaccine is not only politics, it is also a lot of money, and the influence of pharmaceutical companies on the leadership of the EU countries.





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