‘People normally submit their visa applications needed to go to Europe for Christmas and New Year in advance, that is, in November or October. This is done in order to avoid some unpleasant surprises like this one,’ Vice President of Fond Mira Travel Company Olga Svechkova said about the recent refusal by the French Consulate to accept visa applications.

‘We managed to submit the applications for our clients before this happened three days ago. As everything was done beforehand, these tourists will be able to fly to France for their holidays. Yet those people who started getting their visas only now will probably face certain difficulties,’ Ms Svechkova observed.