Oleksandr Turchynov: There should be a visa-free regime with Europe and a visa regime – with Russia

Ukraine should carry out a strict visa policy with Russia. This was stated by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov in an exclusive interview with the "Interfax-Ukraine" information agency.

Mr. Turchynov noted that many Ukrainian migrant laborers work in Russia, they "were forced to move there" because of certain circumstances. "But despite all the problems of those Ukrainians staying in Russia, we should be guided by the interests of the country. We should have a visa-free regime with Europe and a visa regime - with Russia", - Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine said.

"There is a war going on with Russia. And we must strictly control any movement across the Ukrainian-Russia border. Russia's secret services are actively working with all groups of our citizens in their territory. And if someone is of interest for them, they begin recruiting. If a person has the courage to refuse, they simply throw him into prison, telling that he is a criminal or subversive of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. I think that such provocation was conducted against the Ukrainian journalist Sushchenko and many others", - Mr. Turchynov pointed out.

"Today, our countries share not a border but a delimitation line, which can be turned into a front line at any time. Therefore, we must strictly control any border crossing. And visa is one of the instruments of control. We need not only visa but clear rules of crossing the Ukrainian-Russian border with fixing and checking everyone who crosses it", - Oleksandr Turchynov underlined.