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Kalniete was intercepted at the Sheremetyevo International Airport in Russia. Her passport was taken for inspection, and she was told that she was refused entry into Russia under Article 27.1 of the Federal Law of Russia, as Kalniete told LETA. However, Russian officials failed to explain what the said article stands for.

"Nemtsov was very important to us. He represented that Russia which we would like it to be. It is very regrettable that I will not have the opportunity to pay my last respects tomorrow," said Kalniete. "Apparently Russia considers me a dangerous enemy," she added.

Kalniete was eventually issued a notice which says that she has been banned from entering Russia until October 11, 2019. She has still not been returned her passport.

Latvia expresses deep indignation over Russia's decision to deny MEP Sandra Kalniete's entry into the country, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics' (Unity) press secretary Martins Dregeris told LETA.

According to Russia's information, the decision to deny Kalniete's entry in Russia was made in response to the European Union's sanctions against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine.

Dregeris said this step by Russia is certainly difficult to understand since it flies in the face of basic principles of humanity. "Russia's behavior in this case does not promote mutual respect and trust and has an impact on the atmosphere conducive to bilateral cooperation," the minister's representative said.

The Latvian Embassy in Russia, Latvian diplomats, and Rinkevics have been in contact with Kalniete to ensure that she could return to Latvia and the European Union, Dregeris added.

MEP Sandra Kalniete (Unity), who has been denied entry into Russia until October 11, 2019, left Russia for Brussels today.

Kalniete said in an interview with LETA that she was surprised after a border guard took her boarding pass and did not return it.

"I realized that if there were orders, I could be held in the transit zone, and none of our consuls would be able to achieve anything," Kalniete said, explaining that all the formalities have been settled now.

"A border guard arrived, he was holding my passport in his hand up until flight boarding was announced. He returned the passport to me, and that moment I realized for the first time that I am closer to freedom," Kalniete said. "This made me aware of the actual lawlessness in Russia. All those people in the opposition who are fighting for human rights, they are true heroes. They are able to withstand this psychological pressure. I admire how they hold on to their sanity and can lead a normal life."