Officials from Abkhazia and South Ossetia have been denied American visas ahead of an informal meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the future of the two countries. The development has been criticised by the Russian Foreign ministry.

“We have always believed, and still believe, that the UN Security Council must receive a full and accurate assessment of the situation in any crisis, which means  the views of the parties involved in the conflict should also be considered,” said the Ministry’s speaker, Andrey Nesterenko.
 
The South Ossetian officials applied for visas at the end September.

The Security Council’s meeting was scheduled to be held in New York, but now Russia says it should be switched to another country, with Geneva in Switzerland the most likely option.