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Russia ready to discuss migrant crisis with Finland — foreign ministry

According to the ministry, it should be taken into account that Russian laws and Russia’s international commitments do not ban persons without a Schengen visa to leave Russia

MOSCOW, January 27 /TASS/. Russia understands Finland’s concerns with the migrant crisis and is ready to discuss the existing problems constructively on the basis of mutual respect, the Russian Foreign Ministry said commenting remarks by Finnish officials that asylum seekers from third countries were entering Finland from the territory of Russia.

"The Russian side understands the Finnish side’s concerns with the migrant crisis and is invariably ready to discuss all the existing problems constructively on the basis of mutual respect," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"Russian border and migration authorities just as the authorities in Finland are not interested in greater migration flows and are taking explanatory and other preventive measures in accordance with Russian laws," the ministry went on to say.

"However, it should be taken into account that Russian laws and Russia’s international commitments do not ban persons without a Schengen visa to leave Russia."