Skopje, 30 November 2023 (MIA) - Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in North Macedonia late Wednesday to take part in the OSCE Ministerial Council. 

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on its official X account, formerly known as Twitter, photos of Lavrov's arrival at the Skopje International Airport, where he was welcomed by Russia's Ambassador to North Macedonia, Sergey Bazdnikin. 

Lavrov arrived after the informal dinner of foreign ministers participating in the OSCE Ministerial Council. 

The Russian Foreign Minister's participation was uncertain due to international sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, but after Bulgaria temporarily suspended the airspace sanctions and allowed overflight for the Russian aircraft, and the EU said it would not violate the sanctions, Moscow confirmed that Lavrov will arrive in Skopje.  

Due to Lavrov's attendance, Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, the Foreign Ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania -  Margus Tsahkna, Krišjānis Kariņš, and Gabrielius Landsbergis, respectively, as well as Poland's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, have decided to boycott the Skopje event.

Photo: X account (former Twitter) of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs