08 January 2003 00:00
GEORGY VLASKIN, DEPUTY OFFICIAL SPOKESMAN AND DIRECTOR OF THE PRESS CENTER OF RUSSIA'S MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, ANSWERS A QUESTION FROM INTERFAX NEWS AGENCY CONCERNING REFUSAL TO LET GERMAN JOURNALIST GUNTHER WALRAFF ENTER RUSSIA
20-08-01-2003
Question: How could you comment on the report that Gunther Walraff, a German journalist, has been refused entry into Russia even though he had a visa?
Answer: Indeed, Gunther Walraff had, upon his request, in December 2002 been issued a tourist visa for visiting Moscow and St. Petersburg. However, on the eve of his trip Walraff in an interview with a German magazine said that the true aim of his arrival in our country was a trip to Chechnya to gather information as part of a journalistic investigation. After learning this, we officially told the FRG embassy in Moscow that an intentional departure by a foreign citizen from the aim and the route of a trip declared by him or her when submitting the visa documents was a serious violation of the existing Russian legislation and might entail cancellation of the entry visa issued.
Regrettably, the German journalist had decided to ignore this official warning and naturally, when he did arrive at the Sheremetyevo airport, the Russian authorities were forced to cancel his entry visa and ask Gunther Walraff to return to Germany on a return flight.
As far as Misters N. Bluem and R. Noidek are concerned, they made the decision to return to Germany themselves.
January 8, 2003
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RUSSIA IN FACTS