Putin ally tells Russians "not wanted" in Europe to vacation in Africa

A close ally of Vladimir Putin has come up with a solution for Russians who have found their travel plans curtailed by restrictions due to Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine—go to Africa.

Dmitry Medvedev, who was president between 2008 and 2012, and is now deputy chairman of Russia's Federation Council, made the comments during a forum in Moscow in which he said his country's deepening ties with the continent made it an ideal vacation destination.

In September 2022, the European Union suspended the visa facilitation agreement with Russia which restricted, although did not ban, the entry of Russian citizens into Europe.