They didn't let me play tennis

Duma deputy Konstantin Zatulin was detained on the evening of Thursday, July 24, at Simferopol airport. On instructions from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), he was not allowed to enter the country, and a corresponding note was made in his passport. Later, the SBU opened a criminal case against Zatulin.

Zatulin's tender relationship with Ukraine is well known. He has already been declared persona non grata here and blacklisted. Last year the lists were abolished, but now this practice is again in use - in particular, another great friend of Ukraine, Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, was banned from entering the country for statements that Sevastopol should belong to Russia. (By the way, Luzhkov managed to speak on this topic again, saying that since Russia’s friendship with Ukraine did not work out, let the two countries arrange a civilized divorce and “divide what they have acquired”).

Zatulin also recently caused discontent in the country because he took part in actions against international NATO exercises in Crimea. Now the SBU is accusing him of wanting to destabilize the situation during the celebration of the 1020th anniversary of the baptism of Rus' in Kyiv, together with the representative of the Institute of CIS Countries Kirill Frolov. He is charged with preparing to commit a crime and mass unrest. It is alleged that the Russian deputy wanted to attract supporters of the Union of Orthodox Christians to carry out his dark plans. The SBU did not report Zatulin’s specific plans. The deputy himself assures that he was going to Crimea to celebrate Russian Navy Day, within the framework of which he, together with the Institute of CIS Countries and the sports club of the notorious Black Sea Fleet, is organizing a charity tennis tournament “Big Peak Cap”.

Russia has already accused Ukraine of unfriendly actions. The ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Ministry, and Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov recalled that Russia and Ukraine seemed to have agreed not to resort to the practice of blacklists anymore.