Polish top senator: Russia banned me from Nemtsov's funeral
Poland's leading opposition activist under communism was to lead a delegation of Polish politicians
WARSAW, Poland: (AP) - Poland s Senate speaker said Monday that Russia s authorities have denied him entry into the country for the funeral of slain Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov.
Bogdan Borusewicz Poland s leading opposition activist under communism was to lead a delegation of Polish politicians and lawmakers attending Nemtsov s funeral Tuesday. Nemtsov was shot dead Friday night near the Kremlin.
Borusewicz told reporters he was informed he would not get a permission to enter Russia. It was not immediately clear if other members of the delegation would get their visas, but they were considering cancelling the trip.
The ban comes at a time when Poland s ties with Russia are strained over the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Marcin Wojciechowski, spokesman for Poland s Foreign Ministry, said it was in response to European Union sanctions on the speaker of the upper house of the Russian parliament, Valentina Matviyenko.
A spokeswoman for the Russian Embassy, Valeria Perzhinskaya, confirmed that Borusewicz is on a list of western politicians who cannot enter Russia, but didn t elaborate.
