The Foreign Ministry accused France of disrupting Russia’s participation in the UNESCO conference in Paris

Russia’s participation in the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris on November 7 was disrupted due to France’s failure to comply with its obligations regarding the issuance of visas. About it stated official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova.

Zakharova claims that the violation of obligations has become systemic.

“Over the past months, a number of Russian representatives, without explanation, were not allowed to participate in international events at the Organization’s site in Paris,” said the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Zakharova recalled that the agreement between France and UNESCO provides that the French government undertakes to allow representatives of Member States, as well as all those invited by the General Conference on official business, to enter and stay in France without delay or charge for a visa.

The representative of the Foreign Ministry called on UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay to intervene in the situation and take appropriate measures.

September 7, State Duma Deputy Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy statedthat UNESCO has sharply politicized its activities, so the need to maintain Russia’s membership in it may be in question.