But while direct experience often affords the best view of artwork, by no means are plane tickets a requirement, since the world can also be traveled on the web.
While such a stringent requirement will entail some dislocation in the Russian economy, it is far better to deal with the direct consequences of that hardship than to pay the multiplied costs that would be precipitated were the West to acquiesce in the Russian protection racket.
Microsoft are making similar moves with Windows Phone to direct people to register via a Windows ID and set up payment for the Windows Store, and Google has the requirement for a Google account and payment details to fully engage with Android.