Russia Advises against Travel to UK Because of ‘Unfriendly’ Visa Stance

A view of a cloudy sky during rainfall in Moscow, Russia, 13 May 2022. (EPA)
A view of a cloudy sky during rainfall in Moscow, Russia, 13 May 2022. (EPA)
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Russia Advises against Travel to UK Because of ‘Unfriendly’ Visa Stance

A view of a cloudy sky during rainfall in Moscow, Russia, 13 May 2022. (EPA)
A view of a cloudy sky during rainfall in Moscow, Russia, 13 May 2022. (EPA)

Russia said on Friday it was recommending that its citizens not travel to Britain, complaining that authorities there were making it "virtually impossible" for Russians to obtain visas.

The Russian Foreign Ministry alleged Russian applications were being delayed because Britain was giving higher priority to Ukrainian refugees. It said Russians were also unable to pay on the British website via Mastercard and Visa, which have both suspended their operations in Russia.

"Taking into account the extremely unfriendly course of the UK towards our country, in order to avoid financial losses and other possible problems, we recommend that Russian citizens refrain, if possible, from traveling to the UK and trying to obtain British visas," it said.

"Until the situation normalizes, we will act in the same way with respect to the British."

The British actions were "a politically motivated infringement of the rights of Russian citizens," the ministry said.

A spokesperson for the British interior ministry, the Home Office, said: "There are currently no restrictions or limitations for Russian nationals to work in the UK on long-term work visas."

"We are prioritizing Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine applications in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine, so applications for study, work and family visas have taken longer to process."

Tensions between Moscow and London have ratcheted up in recent weeks, with Britain announcing fresh sanctions on Putin's financial network on Friday over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday he did not see how there could be a normalization of relations with Putin following the invasion.



Iran’s President Orders Country to Suspend Cooperation with IAEA

22 June 2025, Iran, Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian participates in a protest following US attacks on nuclear facilities in Tehran amid the escalating Iran-Israel conflict. Photo: Iranian Presidency/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
22 June 2025, Iran, Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian participates in a protest following US attacks on nuclear facilities in Tehran amid the escalating Iran-Israel conflict. Photo: Iranian Presidency/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Iran’s President Orders Country to Suspend Cooperation with IAEA

22 June 2025, Iran, Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian participates in a protest following US attacks on nuclear facilities in Tehran amid the escalating Iran-Israel conflict. Photo: Iranian Presidency/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
22 June 2025, Iran, Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian participates in a protest following US attacks on nuclear facilities in Tehran amid the escalating Iran-Israel conflict. Photo: Iranian Presidency/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Iran’s president on Wednesday reportedly ordered the country to suspend its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency after American airstrikes hit its most-important nuclear facilities.

State media online reported the decision by President Masoud Pezeshkian.

It follows a law passed by Iran’s parliament to suspend that cooperation. It also ready received the OK of a constitutional watchdog as well.

It wasn’t immediately clear what that would mean for the IAEA, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog.

The IAEA, based in Vienna, long has monitored Iran’s nuclear program. The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.