Moscow will not respond in kind to the European Unions brand-new difficulties for Russians checking out the blocs visa-free travel zone, a senior diplomat said Tuesday.The European Union recently formally suspended a 2007 visa facilitation deal with Moscow that had actually made it easier and more affordable for Russians to travel to Europe as part of the blocs response to the invasion of Ukraine.

The relocation, efficient Monday, stops brief of the complete travel restriction demanded by EU member states situated closer to the Russian border.

We will not react tit-for-tat, Vladimir Chizhov, Russias outbound ambassador to the EU, said in an interview with Russian state broadcaster Rossia 24.

Chizhov promised that Moscow would stay available to those who want to come and see how Russians actually live and what occurs in Russia.

We will stay a country dedicated to democracy and freedom of motion, stated Chizhov.

This is a display of maturity and wisdom of our management.

The Kremlin recently denounced the EUs traveler visa suspension as another outrageous decision in a series of continuous absurdities.

Russias Foreign Ministrysaid Tuesday the brand-new EU rules-- which permit passage to vetted Russian dissidents, journalists and humanitarian cases-- make up undisguised disturbance in our nations affairs designed to brain drain out of Russia.

Labeling Russians as risky, dividing them into useful and not useful, and speaking about opportunities to go to the EU are outright symptoms of xenophobia and hatred towards our country, the ministry said in a statement.Meanwhile, Russias Association of Tour Operatorssaid at least nine EU member states have actually stopped accepting traveler visa applications from Russian residents.

Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands joined central European and Baltic EU members in suspending traveler visa processing for Russian nationals.At the same time, Russias state tourist agency Rosturismforecasts 1 million Russians to take a trip to Europe this year, a 15-fold drop from the pre-pandemic year of 2019.