Pulkovo airport
Swiss minister angry over search in Russian airport
Published 13 July, 2008, 15:12
The Swiss Economics Minister, Doris Leuthard, is to file a complaint to Russian authorities after she was searched in the Pulkovo airport in St Petersburg. It happened on Saturday when she was returning to Switzerland after her six-day visit to Russia, according to the RIA-Novosti news agency.
Airport staff asked her to take off her shoes to scan them and then to pass through a metal detector.
The Minister objected, saying that that government members have diplomatic immunity and are not subject to checks. Eventually, however, she agreed to comply.
20 members of the official delegation also had to pass through security. The flight was delayed for 20 minutes as a result.
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