Russia's envoy to the EU Vladimir Chizhov said the issue of non-issuance of Schengen visas to Crimeans: the collective punishment of a group of people for their will is contrary to all principles of international law.

before in mass-media there were messages about the fact that the European Commission wants to oblige the inhabitants of the Crimea to obtain a Schengen visa only in Ukraine and by presenting Ukrainian passport. The head of the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation called such actions will embody, gross failures of human rights.

"The issue we have raised, drawing the attention of partners that the principle of collective retribution rather large group of people for their political views and for the fact that they used the right to free expression, is contrary to all principles of international law, the notions of democracy and thereby to European values, for which our partners so zealously fight," - said Chizhov in an interview to the newspaper.

Crimea and Sevastopol became the Russian regions after the 16 March 2014 referendum in which the overwhelming majority of voters voted for reunification with Russia. In the capital of Russia notice that the referendum in Crimea complies with international law and the UN Charter

sections: Politics