Russia expands retaliatory sanctions against EU

In response to the 13th package of EU sanctions, Russia has expanded the blacklist of EU citizens who are prohibited from entering the country, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, reported from TASS.

"In response to these unfriendly actions, the Russian side has significantly expanded the list of representatives of European institutions and EU member states who, under the Federal Law ‘On the procedure for leaving and entering the Russian Federation’ dated August 15, 1996 No. 114-FZ, are prohibited from entering to the territory of our state," the ministry said.

The ministry stated that Moscow considers EU sanctions illegal, which undermine the international legal prerogatives of the UN Security Council.

"The European Union continues its fruitless attempts to put pressure on Russia through unilateral restrictive measures. On February 23, the EU countries adopted the 13th sanctions package. We consider such actions of the European Union illegal, undermining the international legal prerogatives of the UN Security Council,” the ministry said. "We confirm that any unfriendly actions by Western countries will continue to receive a timely and adequate response."

Russia, in response to the 13th package of EU sanctions, is banning entry of EU citizens responsible for providing military assistance to Kyiv, as well as persons involved in the persecution of Russian officials and advocating the confiscation of Russian state assets.

In addition, the response "stop list” includes representatives of the Council of Europe, members of legislative assemblies of European Union countries, and members of the OSCE PA and PACE, who systematically make aggressive statements against Russia, the ministry added.

www.anews.az