Russian Foreign Ministry building. Archival photoMOSCOW, 11 Aug.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted to the decision of the Latvian authorities to recognize Russia as a «sponsor of terrorism» and the call to stop issuing visas to citizens of the country.
"We are considering the statement of the Latvian Saeima on " recognition" Russian Federation "State Sponsor of Terrorism" with a call to stop issuing tourist visas to Russians as another manifestation of Russophobia, which has long become a "tuning fork" of Latvian foreign policy", the statement says.
It is emphasized that such steps violate international law and the principle of the sovereign equality of states, enshrined in the UN Charter. MFA.
The French put Latvia in its place, which declared Russia a sponsor of terrorism, the agency noted that this decision was made by the parliament of the state, where the authorities «openly glorify Nazism, pander to Nazi accomplices, encourage sending their own citizens as mercenaries to Ukraine.» There they fight in neo-Nazi formations controlled by Kyiv, including on the side of the Azov nationalist battalion*, the Foreign Ministry added. The Latvian Parliament declared Russia a «state that supports terrorism» at a meeting on August 11. Of the 67 deputies who voted, all were in favor, but 16 parliamentarians (14 from the Harmony party and two non-partisans) refused to participate. The Saeima of LatviaThe authors of the appeal also called on the EU countries to «immediately stop issuing tourist and entry visas» to Russians and Belarusians. This measure is being discussed in the context of the seventh package of European sanctions. The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the republic, Edgar Rinkevich, also said that the authorities want to prohibit the issuance of residence permits at the level of law to «newly minted citizens of Russia» — residents of the republic who will obtain Russian citizenship under a simplified procedure. * Terrorist organization banned in Russia.
Zakharova accused the Saeima of Latvia of xenophobia and neo-Nazism