15 April 2005, 17:07
EU state seems to be discriminating
Moscow is perplexed by the Swedish embassy's refusal to issue visas to a group of Russian sportsmen from Chechnya, the Russian Foreign Ministry's Information and Press Department says in its comment.
A team of Russian wrestlers from Chechnya were invited to Sweden on the initiative of a number of Swedish sports organisations, Novosti news agency says.
The Russian Foreign Ministry observes that, for example, emissaries of terrorist groups deployed in Chechnya have no difficulties visiting Sweden to take part in various "public activities and workshops."
"At the same time, the young sportsmen representing the future of the reviving Chechen Republic have been perceived by Swedish officials as potential danger. It looks like they don't match the far-fetched gloomy picture of the situation in Chechnya that the Swedish public opinion is so diligently offered," the comment notes.
The ministry may be trying to offer another "far-fetched reality" though when it implies that the situation is not gloomy in Chechnya, but their main point seems to be right: what is the danger of young Chechen civilians who are among those whose rights the EU is so committed to?
