MEPs accused of breaking Maldives visa rules
The group presented themselves as an official delegation, a Maldives ambassador said.
11 Sep 2018, 9:00 AM
European lawmakers who visited the Maldives were in “utter disregard and violation” of immigration rules following their trip last month to the country, according to a top diplomat who complained about them.
Three MEPs – Maria Gabriela Zoana, Tomas Zdechovsky, Ryszard Czarnecki – as well as Henri Malosse and Madi Sharma were accused by a Maldives ambassador of presenting themselves as if they were an official delegation of the European Union.
The EU said in July it would impose sanctions on people, organisations or institutions it says are responsible for human rights abuses, undermining democracy or stopping free and fair elections from taking place in the Maldives. A presidential election is due to be held on September 23.
An EU source told the Maldives Independent it would not send an official delegation to observe the election because “conditions for credible and transparent elections have not been met.”
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