Moscow retaliates after adoption of 20th EU sanctions package

The Russian Foreign Ministry has announced that, in response to the twentieth package of anti-Russian sanctions approved by the Council of the European Union on April 23, Moscow is introducing additional restrictive measures.

According to the press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the actions taken by Brussels, bypassing the UN Security Council, constitute a gross violation of international law.

In response, Russia has significantly expanded its list of representatives of EU institutions, EU member states, and several other European countries who are banned from entering the Russian Federation under Federal Law No. 114-FZ “On the Procedure for Leaving and Entering Russian Federation.”

“The list includes representatives of EU structures, EU member states, and a number of other European countries:

• involved in decision-making on providing military assistance to Ukraine,
• engaged in activities aimed at undermining the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation,
• responsible for introducing anti-Russian sanctions, damaging Russia’s relations with third countries, and creating obstacles to maritime navigation in the interests of our country,
• involved in the prosecution of Russian officials on contrived grounds, and in the establishment of a ‘tribunal’ against the Russian leadership,
• advocating for the illegal seizure of Russian state assets or the use of profits derived from them.

Restrictive measures on our part have also been imposed against civil activists and representatives of the academic community of European states holding hostile positions toward Russia, as well as members of national parliaments of EU countries and the European Parliament who voted in favour of anti-Russian resolutions and legislative initiatives,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

By Jeyhun Aghazada