OREANDA-NEWS. The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, explained the work of the upcoming decree on retaliatory visa measures. It is reported by RIA Novosti.

“Despite the attempts of the West to complicate contacts, humanitarian ties, to destroy cultural and business ties, the Russian side does not intend, well, one might say, to take revenge on ordinary Europeans,” she said.

Zakharova clarified that the document will not apply to foreign citizens already legally in Russia.

A day earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced the preparation of new measures to restrict the entry of citizens from countries that carry out unfriendly actions against Russia.

Before that, it became known that from February 28, the European Union terminates the bilateral agreement on the simplified issuance of visas to certain categories of citizens.

The simplified procedure for issuing EU visas will no longer be valid for Russian diplomats and parliamentarians, members of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts, members of official delegations, as well as businessmen and representatives of business organizations.