Russia bans entry of 235 Australian municipal deputies

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has banned 235 Australian citizens from entering the country – all of them are deputies of municipal councils. The Foreign Ministry statement claims that 235 deputies “are forming an anti-Russian agenda in their country as part of the Russophobic campaign of the collective West.” Also, the Russian Foreign Ministry indicateswhich blacklists Australians in response to sanctions imposed by Australia against Russian individuals and entities.

The list of persons non grata includes former and current members of the Legislative Council of the State of South Australia and the Legislative Assembly of the State of Victoria.

• After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Australia condemned the actions of the Russian authorities and imposed sanctions against the Russian Federation. According to the Australian government, more than a thousand individuals and legal entities supporting Russian aggression were subject to restrictions.
• In February of this year, Australian authorities included 55 Russian citizens and 37 organizations on the sanctions list. They were directed against those who, according to Australia, “participated in Russia’s deportation of Ukrainian children from regions under temporary Russian control.”