All news

European lawmakers seek visa support for 'New Dialogue With Russia' visit

The European parliamentary group is headed by French lawmaker Nadine Morano, who told Russian media in July she was considering a visit to Crimea together with colleagues

MOSCOW, August 12. /TASS/. European Parliament members from various countries united in the informal assembly For A New Dialogue With Russia have applied for visa support to visit Russia in September, State Duma deputy and former ambassador to the EU Vasily Likhachev told TASS on Wednesday.

"I received information during working consultations in the Russian Foreign Ministry that they had applied for visa support," the deputy added, noting that "the most active role was played by representatives of France and Italy — they have a desire to visit Moscow in September and, possibly, Crimea."

A positive decision had been made in Moscow, he said, adding that "Visa support will be provided and the [Russian] mission in Brussels will assist with the work of the group".

The European parliamentary group is headed by French lawmaker Nadine Morano, who told Russian media in July she was considering a visit to Crimea together with colleagues.

French deputies "had been able to open not just a window in the sanctions policy of Russophobia, but a real door" on a recent visit "in search of mutual understanding, impartial appraisal especially of what is going on in Crimea", Likhachev said.

"Fortunately, today this trend has produced some sort of recovery, including restoration of inter-parliamentary contacts," he added.

Representatives of the European Parliament, another delegation from France, lawmakers from Italy and some other European countries may also visit Russia in September.