Russia sanctions a series of foreign parliamentarians and diplomats
Russia banned the entry of 287 British MPs and expelled many Norwegian and Japanese diplomats in tit-for-tat moves.
“In retaliation for the British government’s March 11 decision to put 386 Russian MPs on the sanctions list, we will put 287 MPs in the UK House of Commons on a restricted personal list,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said. issued a statement on April 27.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting of the Russian parliament’s advisory council in Saint Petersburg on April 27. Image: AFP
The Russian Foreign Ministry said these MPs were barred from entering Russia from the time of announcing the decision.
The British House of Commons has 650 members. Russia said the 386 MPs banned from entry were the ones who “played the most active role” in formulating sanctions against Russia and contributed to “anti-Russian hysteria”.
Those sanctioned by Russia include Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle and a number of cabinet members such as Brexit Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg and Environment Secretary George Eustice.
Speaking in parliament, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said those on Russia’s sanctions list “should consider it a medal of honor”.
“What we will do is continue to strongly support the Ukrainian people, as well as their right to life and family protection,” he said. “This is what Britain is doing and I think the whole House of Commons supports it.”
Russia previously put Prime Minister Johnson, British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, Foreign Secretary Liz Trus, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace and several more officials to the sanctions list.
The Russian Foreign Ministry on April 27 also announced the expulsion of three Norwegian diplomats as a move in retaliation, after Oslo expelled three Russian diplomats earlier this month.
The agency also ordered eight Japanese diplomats to leave Russia before May 10, in response to Japan’s expulsion of eight Russian diplomats earlier this month, and accused Tokyo of pursuing an “openly hostile line against Russia”. Russia” and damaged the years of cooperation between the two countries.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno today opposed Moscow’s decision, saying that Russia must bear full responsibility for the deterioration of bilateral relations.
Relations between Russia and Western countries escalated after Moscow launched a military operation in Ukraine. The two sides have imposed a series of “tit-for-tat” sanctions against each other, including the expulsion of diplomats and travel bans.
Hong Hanh (According to AFP/Kyodo News)
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