German politicians are demanding sanctions on official Budapest for liberalizing the visa system for Russia and are asking Hungary's neighbors, including Croatia, to set up border controls with Hungary.

"Controls should be established at the Hungarian borders, this is legally possible. Now neighboring countries like Austria, Croatia, Slovakia and Romania are on the move," said the interior minister of the federal state of Brandenburg, Michael Stuebgen (CDU).

In an interview with Bild daily, he said the move was necessary after Hungary eased the visa system for citizens of Russia and Belarus and facilitated easier labor immigration from these countries.

"It is unacceptable that a member of the European Union is allowing the Russians to enter the country more or less unchecked," Stuebgen said.

His colleague and head of European citizens, Manfred Weber, demanded that Hungary be sanctioned for facilitating the entry of Russian and Belarusian citizens.

"Putin's spies and assassins have already caused a lot of damage to the European Union and Germany...anyone who allows Russians into the EU unchecked seriously threatens the security of Europe," Weber said, adding that Hungary's move "must have consequence. "

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (Social Democratic Party of Germany SPD) said that after the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the risk of espionage and sabotage by Russia has increased.

"This is why EU members should increase the level of protection instead of creating possible entry routes," said the minister through her spokesperson.