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Russian Foreign Ministry calls on Minsk to stop escalating negative emotions

Moscow counts on Minsk’s measured and objective approach to the investigation of all circumstances regarding the Russian citizens, apprehended in Belarus earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry said

The building of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Valery Sharifulin/TASS

The building of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

MOSCOW, July 30. /TASS/. Moscow calls on Minsk to stop escalating unnecessary negative emotions ahead of presidential elections, Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, published on its website Thursday.

"It is necessary to stop the escalation of unnecessary - especially ahead of the presidential elections - negative emotions," the statement says.

Moscow counts on Minsk’s measured and objective approach to the investigation of all circumstances regarding the Russian citizens, apprehended in Belarus earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"The attempt to present the incident as a foreign meddling in the republic’s affairs causes bewilderment, at the very least," the statement says. "The Belarusian authorities, including the air transport ones, have all papers, required to determine the truth.".

According to the Ministry, Russian citizens apprehended in Belarus on Wednesday were travelling to Istanbul through Belarus, with all required papers on their hands.

"The odious interpretation of the apprehension of 33 Russian citizens, provided by the Belarusian side, withstands no scrutiny. We currently know that the mentioned group travelled to Istanbul through Minsk, having all necessary papers on their hands, including plane tickets. All logistics on the Belarusian territory was provided by a Belarusian company," the Ministry said. "For unknown reasons, the group was unable to board its Minsk-Istanbul flight and had to stay in Belarus until new plane tickets could be purchased by the Belarusian company.".

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