No Russian tourists for Greek Cypriot administration: Russian envoy

ANKARA

Russia’s ambassador to the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus said no Russian tourists will show up there after it imposed sanctions on his country over its war on Ukraine, Greek media reported late Monday.

Stanislav Osadchiy heavily criticized European countries who have imposed such sanctions, saying they have “shot themselves in the foot,” the Kathimerini daily newspaper reported.

In an interview with the daily Politis in Southern Cyprus, Osadchiy warned that Russian tourists will go to Turkiye instead, Kathimerini said.

“You have shut down your airspace and summer is coming. Where will Russian tourists go? To Turkiye, to spend money,” he added.

Osadchiy, 71, has served as Russia’s ambassador to the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus since 2013.

Previously, he was an ambassador to Austria and consul-general in Hamburg, Germany and Istanbul.

Since Russia's war on Ukraine began last Thursday, it has been met with outrage from the international community, with the European Union, UK and US implementing a range of economic sanctions against Russia.

Russia was further isolated after its planes were barred from flying in European and Canadian airspace, and a number of its banks were kicked out of the SWIFT international banking system.