EPP Group Vice-Chair Sandra Kalniete denied access to Russia

Sandra Kalniete MEP, Vice-Chairwoman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament responsible for Eastern Neighbourhood and Enlargement, was denied access to Russia today.  Kalniete was travelling to Moscow in order to go to the funeral of Boris Nemtsov, one of the leaders of the Russian democratic opposition who was assassinated on Friday. 

"Despite this decision of the Putin regime, I want the relatives and friends of Boris Nemtsov and all Russian democrats to know that we, citizens of Europe, my country Latvia and my political family - the European People's Party - are with them at this tragic moment in Russia’s history", said Kalniete.

This is already the third time that a Member of the European Parliament has been stopped at the Russian border. The EPP Group calls on European Parliament President Martin Schulz to take the necessary action and urgently address this issue with the Russian authorities in order to allow MEPs to execute their duties.