Cyprus Condemns Finland's Decision to Deny Visas to Russian Lawmakers

HELSINKI (Sputnik), Svetlana Alexandrova — Cyprus condemns Finland’s refusal to allow the Russian delegation to enter the country to participate in a Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE PA) session, head of the Cyprus delegation Sophoclis Fittis told Sputnik Sunday.

"On behalf of the Cyprus delegation, I would like to express disappointment regarding the decision of our host country to ban into the country certain members of the Russian delegation, including the president of the State Duma [Sergei] Naryshkin, in compliance with the EU sanctions. We condemn this action of the Finish government," Fittis said.

"Although, EU member-states implement pertinent Council's decisions, we must note that this is an international meeting, and the EU member-states may and need to grant exemptions to travel bans when they host an international intergovernmental organization, a UN conference or the OSCE," Fittis said.

The European Union, the United States and a number of other countries have imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia, accusing Moscow of alleged involvement in the Ukrainian crisis. Entry bans for several Russian individuals were part of the restrictive measures.

An OSCE PA meeting in Helsinki is taking place on July 5-9.