Brussels, 26/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 26 September, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and European Parliament President Martin Schulz condemned Russia's refusal to allow the co-leader of the European Parliament's Greens Group, Rebecca Harms, to enter Russian territory. Harms is known for her pro-Ukrainian stance but had contacted the Russian authorities before leaving and possesses a diplomatic passport.
Harms was forbidden entry to Russian territory on 25 September when she was travelling there to observe the trial of Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko, who has been accused of spying. After waiting four hours at Moscow airport, Harms was informed that she was an “undesirable” person for Russia and that her entry would be a “criminal act”. She was then “invited” to take the next flight back to Brussels. Harms said that the authorities at the airport had told her that the fact she had voted in favour of sanctions against Russia was one of the reasons for this refusal - even if the European Parliament has no power as regards the restrictive measures. “It was a masquerade (…) It reminded me of the Soviet Union”, she said at a press conference.
Schulz believed that this “diplomatic incident” was “a worrying setback for relations between the European Parliament and Russia”. “It is completely unacceptable to withhold the passport and papers of an elected Member of the European Parliament and to threaten that entry into Russia would be considered as a criminal activity”, he added.
“A lack of transparency by the Russian authorities regarding people registered on a black list is regrettable and goes against the spirit of the agreement on the facilitation of issuing visas between the EU and Russia”, said Maja Kocijancic, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton. “For the time being we don't know who is on this list in addition to me”, said Harms, adding that Russia had refused to give further details.
Schulz stated that a letter of protest was going to be sent to the Russian Embassy in Brussels on 26 September, in which the Russian government was called to reverse its decision. Harms said that the EU delegation and German Embassy in Russia have also protested against this ban. Germany's minister for foreign affairs believed the Russian decision was “unacceptable”.
Elsewhere, the EEAS stated that Savchenko's detention was “a subject of concern for the EU”. (CG)