REUTERS
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday signed a decree on specific measures to ensure Russia's national security and protect Russian citizens from criminal and other unlawful activity, having thus temporarily banned air transportation of passengers to Egypt.
"The Russian government agencies and local authorities, as well as legal entities <…> in their activities [should] take into account the fact that since this decree becomes effective, Russian airlines shall be temporarily barred from carrying out air transportation (including commercial flights) of citizens from the Russian Federation to the Arab Republic of Egypt, except in cases <…> for official purposes," the presidential decree posted on the official legal news portal reads.
The decree recommends that tour operators and travel agencies should halt the sale of tour packages to Egypt for the duration of this ban.
The decree was signed with immediate effect and applies retrospectively starting from November 6, 2015.
The Russian government has been instructed to take steps to arrange the return of Russian citizens, who are currently in Egypt, back home.
As UNIAN reported earlier, the departure of Russian and British tourists from Egypt will deprive that country of 70% of tourist flows and seriously hit the industry that accounts for more than 11% of Egyptian GDP and for more than 14% of that country's foreign currency receipts.