Russian officials criticize UK statement on North Caucasus

Russian officials have criticized a statement made recently by the UK Foreign Office. The body has warned British nationals against visiting the Russian region of the North Caucasus, saying that such trips may be dangerous due to constant terrorist threat.

Ingush leader Yunus-bek Yekurov said that travelling to Ingushetia is safe and invited international tourists to the republic, RIA Novosti reports.

Stavropol governor Valery Zerenkov said the same about his region. "Every year Stavropol Territory is visited by people coming from Europe, the United States and other countries," he said.

The reaction of the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov was the most emotional. "I claim that in Chechnya life is safer than in England," Kadyrov said in his blog on Twitter.