Summer Olympics in Paris – Warns Russian tourists

This summer the Olympics will be held in Paris. It will happen with Russian athletes at the start, but under a neutral flag.

But barely three months before, Russia’s ambassador to France, Aleksej Meshkov, comes with a clear warning to athletes and Russians who might think of going to Paris this summer.

– Athletes and tourists planning to go must understand one thing. They are not traveling to a flowery paradise, as EU summit Josep Borell claims, but to a dangerous western jungle where they have to protect themselves from what the French authorities are doing, Meshkov told Rossiya-24 TV, according to the Russian news agency Tass.

He makes it clear that the Russian authorities are not ready to help citizens who get into trouble in France this summer.

– They have to manage on their own. The authorities in France have suspended our institutions in the country from participating and being present. They also won’t guarantee us permits to move around in the center of Paris which will be closed down, and this is where our offices are, he explains further.

He also rejected claims that a ceasefire is being negotiated between Russia and Ukraine during the Olympic Games.

– It is strange to hear statements about an Olympic truce when we have had no dialogue with the French authorities, says Meshkov.

Recently, Russia was hit by terror from Islamic extremists in Moscow, where over 130 people lost their lives. France has raised its terror threat level following that incident.

The authorities have also made massive preparations for the Olympics to prevent any attacks. Recently, President Emmanuel Macron asked to reduce the number of spectators at the opening ceremony in Paris. According to the plan, it was expected that over 300,000 people could follow the ceremony where the athletes will sail down the Seine in the heart of the city.