DUSHANBE, May 11, 2010, Asia-Plus — Russia is ready to crack down on Tajikistan if Tajik authorities do not review their decision on banning Russian children under the age of six from leaving Tajikistan in connection with a polio outbreak reported in Tajikistan, Russia’s news agency Interfax reported yesterday, referring to Gennady Onishchenko, Head of Russia’s Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Protection and Welfare.
“I warn the Tajik side that if they do not review their decision, Russia’s response will be adequate and tough and Tajikistan’s economy will feel it,” Onishchenko said.
According to him, his agency on May 8 applied to the Health Ministry of Tajikistan asking to assist with exit of Russian children under the age of six from Tajikistan. “However, the Tajik side has unilaterally decided not to let our children leave the country. We assess this decision as having nothing to do with epidemiology,” the Russian head sanitary physician said.
In the meantime, Tajik health authorities say the Russian children should also receive triple polio vaccination.
We will recall that Gennady Onishchenko, the head of Russia’s Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Protection and Welfare, told reporters in Moscow on May 6 that Tajik children under the age of six are banned from entry into Russia due to a polio outbreak reported in Tajikistan. According to him, the ban will be effective until the polio situation in Tajikistan becomes stable or the national polio immunization campaign amongst the children aged 0 to 6 is finished.
