MOSCOW. March 20 (Interfax) - Russian State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin has described statements made by representatives of Ukraine's new authorities concerning the possible introduction of visas for Russian citizens and Ukraine's withdrawal from the CIS as political.
"They are political statements. And they have shown once again that the self-proclaimed authorities of Ukraine do not care about ordinary people," Naryshkin told reporters on Thursday, when answering a question from Interfax.
Thousands of Russian and Ukrainian citizens are tied by family bonds and common interests, he said.
"The possible introduction of visa regulations will certainly create serious difficulties for our citizens," he added.
"I would like to say it once again that the current authorities of Ukraine are thinking of something else completely, but never of ordinary people," Naryshkin said.
When commenting on the possibility of Ukraine quitting the CIS, Naryshkin said that "such a possibility exists, but it is currently unclear whether or not it will actually happen."