Comments of the Foreign Ministry of Russia department of information and press in connection with an incident with a security guard of Israel's tourism minister in Nizhny Novgorod

From 27 to 29 September Nizhny Novgorod hosted the "First International Business Summit 2012." Naturally, the city had taken additional measures to ensure the safety of participants of the aforementioned events, among which was the Minister of Tourism of Israel S.Misezhnikov.

September 28 at 19:30 in the hotel "Oka" lobby security service stopped an Israeli citizen R.Lahav accompanying S.Misezhnikov as a guard. Mr Lahav appeared to carry an object visible on his hip under the jacket, shaped like a side arm. He was asked to take off his jacket and show what's under, which he did without any objections. No weapons or restricted items were discovered, on the trouser belt there was a case with a portable torch. The procedure took less than a minute, after which the Israelite was thanked for his assistance.

Representatives of Russian police who arrived on the scene at the request of S.Misezhnikov found that "Oka" hotel security acted in the correct manner and strictly in accordance with the job description, as recorded by surveillance cameras of the hotel.

The uproar raised by a number of media around the event is puzzling. Even more surprising is the reaction in Israel, where safety is traditionally given priority and drastic measures are taken in this area.

2 October 2012