MOSCOW, October 13. /TASS/. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Monday the ban on entry to Estonia for Russian academician Valery Tishkov is a provocation and pledged a response to Tallinn’s actions. 

“We interpret the actions of the Estonian side as a provocative action aimed at preventing open and unbiased exchange of opinions between representatives of the two countries’ public and academic communities,” the ministry said in a statement.

“This case clearly demonstrates what demagogical statements on Estonia’s adherence to the principles of democracy and freedom of speech are worth in practice”, it said.

“Such steps by Tallinn will certainly not be left without a response and will be taken into account by us in the context of bilateral relations”, the statement said.