Russia defends visit to Norwegian island despite sanctions
Russia said on Monday its deputy prime minister had every right to visit a Norwegian island despite travel restrictions imposed on him over Ukraine, dismissing Oslo's condemnation of the trip.
Oslo has demanded Moscow explain Dmitry Rogozin's Saturday stopover on the island of Spitsbergen in the arctic Svalbard archipelago.
The European Union imposed travel bans and other penalties after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea region, strengthening them further after accusing Moscow of backing rebels in Ukraine's east. Norway is not an EU member but has adopted the same sanctions.
The Ukraine crisis has triggered the worst stand-off between Russia and the West since the Cold War, with tensions particularly high in central-eastern Europe and the waters around Nordic region where Moscow has stepped up military drills.
