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Refugee crisis in Europe

Russian lawmaker says cancelling visas for Ukraine, Georgia not to stabilize EU situation

A Russian lawmaker says the EU is facing a grave migrant crisis, which is unlikely to stabilize if visas for Ukraine and Georgia cancelled

© EPA/PATRICK SEEGER

MOSCOW, July 7 /TASS/. The European Union, which is facing a grave migrant crisis, is unlikely to stabilize its internal situation if it cancels visas for the citizens of Ukraine and Georgia, Leonid Kalashnikov, the first deputy vice-chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee for Foreign Affairs, told TASS.

Refugee crisis in Europe

Earlier on Thursday, the European Parliament press service reported that the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs had voted almost unanimously for cancelling visas for the citizens of Ukraine, Georgia and the unrecognized Republic of Kosovo if they travel to EU on short trips.

If the EU Parliament finally decides to cancel the visas, the decision is unlikely to contribute to stabilizing the situation in the European Union.

"The migrant crisis, which has hit the European Union, had largely predetermined the Brexit vote [Britain’s decision to pull out from the European Union]. Are they sure that people from Ukraine and Georgia will not rush for Europe if it cancels visas? They will and they will go there to work - most of them illegally. That will not stabilize the situation in the European Union at all," the Russian deputy stressed.

Kalashniklov said the European Union was underestimating the general situation, which had taken shape in Europe and which had worsened after the Brexit and amidst the migrant crisis. "A political game is under way. It is unclear how it is going to end for the European Union. But I am not sorry for them if they pass decisions, which can undermine the foundations of the European Union," Kalashnikov concluded.

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Foreign policy Refugee crisis

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