NOVO-OGARYOVO, March 31. /TASS/. Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolay Patrushev has rejected accusations against Russia of provoking an increase in the flow of refugees from Syria to Europe.

"It was not we that provoked the overthrow of regimes in the Middle East and North Africa. The conflicts and wars that took place there bear no relation to us whatsoever," he told reporters.

Patrushev noted that the current migration flows from this region began "before we started our actions to counter international terrorist groups [in Syria]." "In my opinion, our actions have brought positive effects, and now the situation is returning back to normal," he said.

Patrushev added that, if one pushed ahead with toppling the undesirable regimes, "this would probably contribute to a further increase in migration."