France confirms giving entry visa to blacklisted Russian minister
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 24 May 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, France confirms giving entry visa to blacklisted Russian minister, 24 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5769014ec.html [accessed 1 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Last updated (GMT/UTC): 24.05.2016 11:34
The EU blacklisted Aleksandr Tkachev when he was Krasnodar governor in 2014 and received a medal for helping to "liberate Crimea."
France's Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Paris granted an entry visa to Russia's Agriculture Minister Aleksandr Tkachev, despite his appearance on an EU sanctions blacklist imposed in response to Moscow's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula in 2014.
Politico.com quoted a ministry spokesman as saying the decision to grant the visa was permitted because Tkachev was traveling to an international event in Paris.
Tkachev headed a Russian delegation at an assembly of the World Organization for Animal Health in Paris that began on May 22.
Tkachev's name was added in mid-2014 to a list of Russian individuals banned from entering the EU.
He had been the head of Russia's southern Krasnodar region at the time and was awarded a medal "for the liberation of Crimea" by the acting head of Crimea's Russian-controlled government for support he provided during Russia's seizure, occupation, and illegal annexation of the Ukrainian territory.
Some politicians in France have since voiced support for lifting sanctions against Russia.
Last month, France's lower house of parliament voted to lift sanctions against Moscow in a nonbinding vote that went against the Socialist government's recommendation.
Based on reporting by Reuters and TASS
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
