The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the U.S. Embassy’s refusal to grant an entry visa to Abkhaz Foreign Minister Sergey Shamba has “deprived the UN Security Council of the opportunity to hear the opinion of the Abkhaz side and get a balanced impression about the situation in the conflict zone.”

Russia wanted to convene an “Arria formula” meeting at the UN Security Council to arrange an informal meeting between the breakaway region’s Foreign Minister and Security Council members.

Sergey Shamba, a Russia citizen who is currently in Moscow, recently met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin.

Issues related with the Abkhaz conflict resolution and UN Security Council draft resolution on Abkhazia was discussed during the meeting, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.