France Gives Entry Visa To Russian Minister Blacklisted By EU
France has granted Russian Agriculture Minister Aleksandr Tkachev an entry visa, even though he is on a European Union blacklist, the Russian Agriculture Ministry said on May 23.
It was not immediately clear why France made an exception from EU sanctions enacted after Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014.
He headed a Russian delegation to an assembly of the World Organization for Animal Health in Paris that started on May 22.
Germany refused him an entry visa in January.
Some politicians in France have voiced support for lifting sanctions against Russia.
Last month, France's lower house of parliament voted to lift sanctions against Moscow in a nonbinding vote that went against the Socialist government's recommendation.
Tkachev's name was added to a list of Russian individuals banned from entering the EU in mid-2014, when he was the head of Russia's southern Krasnodar region. At the time, he was awarded a medal "for the liberation of Crimea" by the acting head of Crimea for the support he provided.
Based on reporting by Reuters and TASS
This ends our live blogging for May 23. Be sure to check back tomorrow for our continuing coverage.