MOSCOW, April 14. /ITAR-TASS/. Kiev authorities’ ban on journalists entering Ukraine is “obviously abnormal,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a news conference on Monday.
“The Vienna convention on diplomatic relations permits a state to ban entry to a citizen of a third country without explaining reasons for this,” the Russian foreign minister recalled, noting “This is the practice, but what is happening in Ukraine shows that the current situation is becoming absolutely abnormal.”
“We are drawing the attention of the world community and our Western partners to this abnormal situation," the minister added, noting Russia’s intention to ask these questions at the United Nations Organisation and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
This organisation had the post of special representative for the freedom of the media, which had made several statements on the issue but “No results are seen,” he said.
Russia's top diplomat regretted that “there is no response from the West. Western countries are keeping silence so far.” “Everything that Kiev authorities are doing is normal and all who try to defy them in retaliation to outrages and lawlessness are taken as those undermining democratic processes in Ukraine,” he added.
“Double standards are evident, blatant arrogance as well,” Lavrov noted.
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