Vyacheslav Nikonov will not take part in National Prayer Breakfast in Washington

USA have created a deep gap in relations with Russia having published the Kremlin Report, the Chairman of the State Duma Committee for Education and Science, the Chairman of the Directors’ Board of the Russkiy Mir Foundation Vyacheslav Nikonov stated on January 30 adding that under present circumstances he sees no chances to take part in the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, the press-service of the State Duma Committee for Education and Science reports. 

Nikonov has emphasized that he has never heard of anything like existing in the world practice: "Under such circumstances attempts of Russia to start a dialogue with American colleagues would have been undue and counterproductive… I do not consider it possible to participate in Prayer Breakfast or any similar activities".

"Americans have created the deepest gap in relations with our country making a dialogue and cooperation on many positions simply impossible, including cooperation in the field of economic interaction", Nikonov claimed.

It's worth mentioning that other Russian parliamentarians, including Andrei Makarov and Anatoly Aksakov are not going to fly to Washington either.

At this, Russia is not obliged to give a symmetric answer back. "If someone wants to make a real mess, let Americans do that… Our decision is not obliged to be similar. Russian President should make a decision taking into consideration all the current circumstances", he has wrapped up.

US Finance Ministry published the Kremlin Report in the early hours of this Tuesday. The report mentions almost all senior officials of the Russian Federation and top Russian businessmen – 200 people in total. The list was prepared in accordance with the law On counteraction to opponents of the Unites States through sanctions, accepted in US in summer 2017. It does not entail automatic sanctions against the mentioned people but it implies that restrictions might be imposed on them in future.

Russkiy Mir