OK let us be honest with one another “border security” is somewhat of a joke in Europe, it always has been, especially in the principality of Liechtenstein…Even if spies don’t have fake visas they can always just walk or bicycle across the border. Pictured here an unguarded border between austria-Liechtenstein where cows provide the only real security.
Vladimir Putin signed a new Federal Law On Ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein on Simplified Procedures for Issuing Visas to Citizens of the Russian Federation and Citizens of the Principality of Liechtenstein.
The Agreement was signed in Vaduz on November 12, 2013.
It was drafted to “create favorable conditions for stays of the citizens of the Principality of Liechtenstein in Russia and citizens of the Russian Federation in the Principality of Liechtenstein.”
Source: Kremlin
What Putin doesn’t seem to understand or realize is that Liechtenstein is part of the Schengen region which has been identified as a weak point (or “back door” into Europe) for spies seeking to enter the continent to conduct clandestine operations.
Then Schengen region has many weak points in its security protocol which are idea for spies.
For example the Schengen visa simplifies travel by allowing travelers to “enter multiple member countries without obtaining additional documentation.”
In other words Schengen member states have no cross-state communication that allows them to share data on visa applicants.
It is also well known that SIS (1) and SIRENE (2) pose a minimal identity threat to US-documented operational travelers entering or exiting the Schengen area, according to a leaked CIA report because “the systems focus on illegal immigration and criminal activities and because US travelers typically receive minimal scrutiny.”
Source: http://www.scribd.com/doc/250754173/CIA-advice-for-spies-travelling-in-Europe-s-Schengen-Area#scribd
The identity threat is further minimized because the systems are not designed to track all travelers’ history into and out of the Schengen area.
US travelers carrying official or diplomatic passports do not currently require visas when transiting the external borders of any of the other Schengen countries, making ideal for spies who need to move around unrestricted.
Notes:
1) The European Union introduced SIS as the main watchlist and immigration database in 1995 when customs and immigration checks at internal borders were removed between Schengen countries. SIS is a hit/no-hit query tool used by immigration and law enforcement officers to check individuals against a centralized database with categories such as lost and stolen identity documents, immigration violators, warrants, stolen vehicle alerts, and missing persons. SIS contains no biometric data. The system relies on data inputs from individual Schengen member states, all of whom have access to read the information provided.
2) SIRENE (Supplementary Information Request at the National Entry) supplements SIS by linking each national system through the central SIS database in Strasbourg, France. When hits register on the SIS watchlist, SIRENE provides additional information using materials contained in national files, but it takes time to access that information.
SIRENE officers are on duty around the clock to enter alerts, provide or receive additional information on alerts, and coordinate cross-border police cooperation.
SIRENE processing is manual, relying on typed Microsoft Word files in English sent via e-mail. The typical response time for a SIRENE report is 24 hours.
See related video: Liechtenstein – The Principality https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZLP_hjhS64