Russia expands entry ban on UK officials, experts

Russia has added several British officials and analysts to its entry ban list in response to what it described as London’s “confrontational course” and support for Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced.

“In response to London’s continued confrontational course, including its efforts to demonise our country, actively fabricate anti-Russia narratives, and its ongoing supply of weapons to the neo-Nazi Kiev [Kyiv —  ed] regime, a decision has been made to add a number of British representatives from the UK political establishment and expert community to Russia’s ‘stop list,’” the ministry said in a statement, Caliber.Az reports. 

Those barred from entering Russia include James Byrne, co-founder and CEO of the Open Source Centre; Anna Deibel-Jung, deputy director of the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation; SNP MP David Doogan; Max Petrokofsky, head of Sectoral Sanctions (Trade) at the Foreign Office; Labour MP Emma Reynolds, Economic Secretary to the Treasury; and two representatives of the Royal United Services Institute, Kinga Redlowska and Gonsalo Saiz Erasquin. Several officials from the Financial Sanctions Implementation office at HM Treasury were also listed.

The ministry said London “continues to use irresponsible and imprudent Russophobic rhetoric” and warned that efforts to “discredit and isolate Russia on the international stage” would “inevitably meet with a firm and strong response.”

By Sabina Mammadli