Russia has taken a new step to ban entry in response to the European Union’s 21st sanctions package. Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced that the list, which includes certain EU representatives and European officials, had been expanded.
The ministry argued that the sanctions package adopted on July 23 contains unilateral restrictions aimed at harming Russia. The statement claimed that the EU’s approach was illegitimate under international law.
The scope of the entry ban was expanded
The new list includes representatives of EU institutions, EU member states and certain European countries that support Brussels’ anti-Russian policy. The ministry said these individuals had been barred from entering Russia under Federal Law No. 114 of August 15, 1996.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said the list includes individuals who played a role in decisions on providing military assistance to Ukraine and those held responsible for implementing sanctions against Russia. It also includes people involved in activities deemed harmful to Russia’s relations with third countries.
The list also covers individuals accused of taking initiatives that obstruct Russia’s maritime transport interests, those involved in prosecuting Russian citizens and those who support establishing anti-Russian mechanisms within the Council of Europe. It also includes people who advocate the confiscation of Russian state assets or the use of income derived from those assets.
Politicians and academics also added to the list
The ministry announced that restrictions had also been imposed on certain civil society activists and academics in European countries who have taken an anti-Russian stance. The list also includes lawmakers who voted for anti-Russian resolutions and bills in the national parliaments of EU member states and the European Parliament.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry described Brussels’ policy as destructive and said Russia would continue its foreign policy aimed at protecting its national interests and the rights and freedoms of Russian citizens.
The ministry announced that Russia would respond if the European Union continued expanding its unilateral sanctions against Russia.
