"Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has certainly paid attention to the situation. We regret the children cannot use opportunities to come on an educational program abroad," the ministerial press and information department says on the official Foreign Ministry web site.
"Present-day European practice of educational cooperation envisages everything done to facilitate personal contacts.
"As Estonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Estonian Embassy to Russia have explained, the visas were refused as submitted papers failed to comply with the Estonian visa issuance standards," says the statement.
The eight Chechen children intended to study English in an Estonian-based international youth camp on program Bridges for Education.
The Turisalu camp near Tallinn, Estonian capital, expected the group early this month. Ambassadorial officers told the young applicants several times that their visas were not ready yet before a flat refusal came.
