The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has drawn the attention of citizens to the need to observe the laws of the countries they visit.
“The Foreign Ministry draws the attention of Ukrainian citizens to the need to respect the laws of the countries they plan to visit,” Deputy Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Information Policy Department Olena Vaschenko told Interfax-Ukraine, while commenting on the situation with the introduction by Azerbaijan of a ban on the entry of 335 citizens to the country, including eight Ukrainians.
The Foreign Ministry earlier placed on its Web site recommendations for citizens who plan to travel abroad. In particular, Ukrainians were advised to take into account the fact that travel abroad should be conducted in accordance with the laws of Ukraine and the host country.
“While preparing for a trip abroad, citizens should find out possible warnings by the Foreign Ministry regarding visits to a certain country. Of serious concern is a situation when, despite the recommendation not to travel to certain countries due to the difficult security situation and possible threats to their life and health… there are cases when our citizens travel to crisis regions in the world,” according to the posting.
The ministry also called on citizens who are abroad to comply with the laws of the host country.
In addition, in March 2011, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry gave recommendations to citizens regarding visits to the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
“The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry advises Ukrainian citizens to refrain from visiting the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. While staying in Azerbaijan, please observe the general rules of personal safety, the country’s legislation and generally accepted norms of behavior abroad,” the statement said.
Earlier, the Mirror Weekly newspaper wrote that the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry had not responded to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s decision to introduce a ban on the entry into the country of 335 citizens, including eight Ukrainians. The list of personae non gratae includes Ukrainian journalists who were on a business trip to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
