Foreign Ministry advises Russian Muslims against travel to Saudi Arabia via Syria, Iraq
MOSCOW. Sept 18 (Interfax) - The Russian Foreign Ministry has advised Russian Muslims against traveling to holy places in Saudi Arabia across Syria and Iraq, the ministry website reported on Wednesday.
"In view of the hajj season, which starts on September 25, the Russian Foreign Ministry insistently advises Russian pilgrims not to travel to Saudi Arabia by land across Syria and Iraq. The reason is the persisting military-political tensions in these countries against the backdrop of the ongoing internal armed conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic and the practically daily terrorist acts on their territory," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Moscow advised Russian citizens starting their hajj to Mecca to be guided primarily with security considerations and choose other routes to the Islamic holy places, for instance, regular and charter flights.