MOSCOW. Nov 9 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has confirmed that Russia has sent a letter to the United States asking to explain why Basic Element Company CEO Oleg Deripaska and well-known singer and MP Joseph Kobzon were refused visas.
"I confirm it. This letter has been posted on the Internet. It is authentic. They are still unable to explain to us why they [Deripaska and Kobzon] have been denied visas," Lavrov said in Moscow on Tuesday.
Questions arising over these people "are linked exclusively to the observation of U.S. legislation," the minister said.
"However, we have not received any explanation," he said.
"We support their work, and Russia's leadership has raised this question more than once," Lavrov said.
The lawyer handling the issue has asked the Russian authorities to "confirm our interest in looking into this matter and clarifying it," Lavrov said.
"My letter includes all this," he said.