BERLIN 30 (Reuters) – Russia has imposed an entry ban on 89 European politicians and military leaders, according to a list seen by Reuters, a move that has angered Europe and worsened its standoff with the West over Moscow’s role in the Ukraine conflict.
The list, which the Russian foreign ministry compiled and handed to a European Union delegation in Moscow last week, includes outspoken critics of Russia as well as military and intelligence officials. A similar list exists for US citizens, a ministry official told Russian media.
Since Russia annexed Crimea in March 2014, the EU has imposed economic sanctions, visa bans and asset freezes on scores of Russian and Ukrainian citizens and organisations.
Moscow denies Western accusations that it is supporting pro-Russian separatists battling government forces in Ukraine, where 6,200 people have died in the fighting.
A spokeswoman for EU foreign affairs said that in recent months Russia had denied entry to a number of EU politicians.
“We consider this measure as totally arbitrary and unjustified, especially in the absence of any further clarification and transparency,” she said.
A spokeswoman for Britain’s Foreign Office said there was no justification for the travel ban.
“If Russia’s intention is to put pressure on the EU to ease sanctions then this is not the way to do it,” she said.
A Russian Foreign Ministry official confirmed to Russian media that lists of banned individuals had been sent to EU states but declined to comment on the individuals themselves.
“The answer to the demands of several European states, why it was precisely these people who entered into the list … is simple: It was done in answer to the sanctions campaign which has been waged in relation to Russia by several states of the European Union headed by Germany,” the anonymous official was quoted as saying by news agency TASS.
“An analogous list exists in relation to citizens of the US, however one needs to note that in this case the Americans are behaving more constructively than the Europeans,” he added.
