ISTANBUL, October 28 (HS/RIA Novosti) - Russia will not ban the issuance of visas to Europeans, even if the European Union decides to tighten its visa regime for Russian citizens, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told RIA Novosti.

We could, of course, come up with certain restrictions, but I don’t believe we would resort to a total ban. That is something we have never done, Grushko said.

According to the diplomat, the term reciprocity in this and other cases misrepresents Russian policy.

Because if they do stupid things, we won't repeat them, Grushko added.

In mid-October, Estonian broadcaster ERR reported, citing Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, that Estonia had urged EU member states to stop issuing tourist visas to Russians. In addition, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen also sent a letter to the European Commission calling for a ban on the issuance of tourist visas to Russian citizens, the Finnish Foreign Ministry noted.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar