Azerbaijan Declares Russian MP Valuev Persona Non-Grata

Russian State Duma deputy Nikolai Valuev has been banned from entering Azerbaijan, Orda reports, citing The Caucasian Knot.

The ban follows what officials called "threatening and offensive statements" regarding Baku's decision to close the "Russian House" cultural center.

Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizade announced that Valuev, who serves as First Deputy Chair of the State Duma's Tourism Committee, has been added to Azerbaijan's entry ban list due to his "anti-Azerbaijani position."

Hajizade noted previous entry bans were issued to Konstantin Zatulin, First Deputy Chair of the State Duma's CIS Affairs Committee, and Vitaly Milonov, Deputy Chair of the Family Protection Committee.