MOSCOW. May 20 (Interfax) - Russia's Foreign Ministry has issued a strong recommendation for Russian citizens to refrain from visiting Afghanistan for personal, including tourism, purposes.
"Moscow is alarmed by the reports of yet another terrorist assault on foreign tourists in Afghanistan. According to available data, the attack by unidentified persons at a market in Bamian on May 17 killed three people (Spanish citizens) and left four other foreigners (citizens of Australia, Spain, Lithuania and Norway) with severe injuries," the ministry said on its website on Monday.
"Given the continuing complicated security situation in Afghanistan, Russia's Foreign Ministry strongly recommends to Russian citizens to refrain from visiting the country for personal, including tourism, purposes," it said.
The death toll from the armed attack on foreign tourists and accompanying Afghans in Bamian has increased to six, the Aamaj News agency reported last Saturday, citing Abdul Matin Qani, spokesperson for the Interior Ministry of the Taliban movement (a terrorist organization banned in Russia), which controls Afghanistan.
"The attack killed three foreign tourists and three Afghan citizens; seven people, including three Afghan citizens and four foreign tourists, were injured," the report said.
Seven people had been arrested in connection with the event, Qani said.