Russia bars some Greek Cypriot officials from entering country

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Moscow said on Thursday that it has barred a number of Greek Cypriot officials from entering Russia.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it had summoned Kypros Giorgallis the Greek Cypriot ambassador, and informed him about the decision, taken in response to the expulsion of a Russian journalist and a Russian Embassy employee from the Eastern Mediterranean country last October.

The ministry did not say how many people were banned from visiting Russia, only saying that they were officials involved in the expulsion of the Russian citizens.

"Officials ... directly involved in the provocation are prohibited from entering the territory of our country in accordance with Federal Law," the ministry said.