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State Duma vice speaker Lebedev denied US entry visa

The lawmaker says the US embassy in Moscow has actually sabotaged his participation as the State Duma delegation head in the meeting of the standing committee of parliamentarians of the Arctic Region

Vice speaker of the State Duma lower house of Russia’s parliament Igor Lebedev ITAR-TASS / Alexandra Mudrats

Vice speaker of the State Duma lower house of Russia’s parliament Igor Lebedev

© ITAR-TASS / Alexandra Mudrats

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MOSCOW, 11 March. /TASS/. Vice speaker of the State Duma lower house of Russia’s parliament Igor Lebedev (LDPR faction) who has been denied a US entry visa said on Wednesday he would seek an explanation from the American embassy in this connection. Lebedev applied for the US visa to attend a conference of parliamentarians of the Arctic Region countries.

The lawmaker confirmed to TASS on Wednesday that the US embassy in Moscow has actually sabotaged his participation as the State Duma delegation head in the meeting of the standing committee of parliamentarians of the Arctic Region that is held in Washington, D.C. from March 9 to 12.

Lebedev said he regretted that this incident has deprived Russian and American parliamentarians of the opportunity to make additional contacts. "I wish I could attend the conference for having contacts with the American side, possible meetings with US congressmen that do not take part in the conference. Any crisis, any problems should be resolved by way of dialogue, and if we shut the door on each other, no way we can be heard," said the lawmaker.

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