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Kiev’s plans to introduce visas for Russians prove Ukraine is not concerned about people

Speaker of the Russian State Duma Sergei Naryshkin says that if the visa regime is introduced, it will cause big problems for Russian citizens
Russian and Ukrainian passports ITAR-TASS/Alexander Ryumin
Russian and Ukrainian passports
© ITAR-TASS/Alexander Ryumin

MOSCOW, March 20. /ITAR-TASS/. Kiev’s announcement it may introduce visas for Russians demonstrates Ukraine’s authorities are not concerned about people, Speaker of the Russian State Duma Sergei Naryshkin told reporters on Thursday.

“It is a political statement, when Ukraine demonstrates once again that the country’s self-appointed leadership is not concerned about people,” Naryshkin said.

Peoples of Russia and Ukraine are united by “thousands and thousands family ties,” he said.

“If the visa regime is introduced, it will cause big problems for our citizens,” Naryshkin said. “Clearly, Ukraine’s leadership is concerned about different things, and never about people.”

On Wednesday, Ukraine’s security and defense council decided to introduce a visa regime with Russia, the authority’s acting secretary, Andriy Parubiy, said.