Russia rejected to grant entry visa to Thomas de Waal, the Caucasus editor at the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR). The Russian Foreign Ministry made a reference to the law, which prohibits foreigners to enter the state if it's necessary for the national security. As Thomas de Waal said in a conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, the rejection of visa is to all appearance conditioned by his engagement in the investigation of the Chechen problem for a long time. "Yes, I have written a book titled "Chechnya. Calamity in the Caucasus" but it was 10 years ago. May be I was refused a visa because I was a witness at the process of Ahmed Zakayev's extradition. But 3 years have passed since that time. Russia is an unpredictable country and anything can be expected from it," Thomas de Waal said.

At that he underscored that this story is by no means bound with Nagorno Karabakh. "I enjoy wonderful relations with the sides in the conflict zone, including the Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement," the British journalist said.

To note, rejection of Russian entry visa bases on the law of 1996 (article 27.1) that says "Foreign citizens and persons without citizenship are prohibited from entering Russia if it's necessary for the national security."