KIEV/MOSCOW, June 6 (RIA Novosti) - Diplomatic tensions between Moscow and crisis-hit Kiev flared up anew as Russia barred a Ukrainian presidential official from entering the country in response to the deportation of a Russian political expert from Ukraine.
Relations between Russia and Ukraine have been deteriorating ever since pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko's election in 2004, hitting a low point during a bilateral energy spat in January 2006. Tensions eased somewhat when pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovych became Prime Minister last August.
Mykola Zhulynskiy, head of Ukraine's presidential commission for citizenship and chief of the council for culture, was banned from entering Russia Tuesday, the Ukrainian UNIAN news agency said.
Zhulynskiy, who had flown into St. Petersburg with his wife and daughter on a private visit, told the agency by phone that Russian border guards did not explain the reason for the ban. "But I understand that they must deport me," the official said from the St. Petersburg airport.
The incident with Zhulynskiy followed the deportation of Russian political scientist Alexander Dugin from Simferopol, a city in southern Ukraine, Tuesday. Dugin had arrived in Simferopol for a conference on the Russian language.
A Ukrainian border guard official, Valentin Vorobyov, said the ban on Dugin would only expire June 5, 2011.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has asked Russia to explain the deportation of Zhulynskiy, and said "the inhumane treatment by Russian bodies" of Zhulynskiy, who "has been working to consolidate cultural and spiritual ties between Russia and Ukraine," contradicted the spirit of bilateral relations. The ministry said Zhulynskiy had done nothing to violate Russian law or undermine its national security.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Zhulinskiy was banned from entering Russia as there are some definite restrictions in regard to the Ukrainian diplomat stipulated by the Russian legislature.
"It is true that Ukrainian citizen Mykola Zhulynskiy, who arrived at Pulkovo airport from Ukraine, was denied entry to Russia as there are some restrictions with regard to this citizen stipulated by the Russian legislature," the statement said.
The ministry also said the incident with Zhulinskiy was unique and shaped by legal norms.
Another Russian, senior lawmaker Konstantin Zatulin, has been banned twice from Ukraine. He said in April he would file a suit with the European human rights court against Ukraine.
The entry bans are taking place against a backdrop of political turmoil in Ukraine after President Viktor Yushchenko ordered the dissolution of parliament, which is controlled by factions loyal to his long-time rival Yanukovych.
