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