05/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - Sandra Kalniete's entry banned due to her “anti-Russian activity”. Questioned about Latvian MEP Sandra Kalniete (EPP) being forbidden to enter Russia on 2 March (see EUROPE 11266), the spokesperson for the Russian ministry of foreign affairs, Alexander Lukashevich, said on Tuesday 3 March that Kalniete was “banned from entering Russia because of her anti-Russian activity as part of the response to the EU's actions against a number of Russian officials”. Lukashevich stated that the Latvian side had been warned in advance about this. “Therefore, the arrival of this deputy can only be regarded as pursuing provocative aims”, he added. Elsewhere, the European External Action Service (EEAS) discussed the situation with Russia's ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, according to a European source. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)