There will be a response to Russia s decision to blacklist officials from several EU member states - Rinkevics 2021-05-05 LETA/TBT Staff
RIGA - A response to Russia s decision to blacklist several officials of European Union (EU) bodies and member states will come soon, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics (New Unity) emphasized after a meeting with Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides today.
He pointed out that a statement from the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) was published on Friday of last week, following the announcement of Russia s decision. We consider this a completely unjustified step - to sanction the President of the European Parliament (EP), Vice-Presidents of the European Commission (EC) and a number of EU citizens. We have also reserved the right to respond to this step at a specific time and in a way we deem necessary, said Rinkevics, noting that these matters are being coordinated with EU colleagues.
Paris Summons Russian Ambassador Alexei Meshkov Published May 5th, 2021 - 06:49 GMT
French President Emmanuel Macron (L) and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin arrive at the Palace of Versailles, near Paris, as they meet for talks on May 29, 2017. (AFP Photo/Pool/Francois Mori)
Highlights
France Summons Russian Ambassador Alexei Meshkov After Moscow s latest sanctions
Russian Ambassador to France Alexei Meshkov has been summoned to the country’s Foreign Ministry over Moscow’s decision to impose retaliatory sanctions on a number of European officials
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“We strongly condemn the measures announced on Friday, April 30, by the Russian authorities against a number of European officials… We confirm our solidarity and express our support for them,” France’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Agnes von der Muhll said in a statement on Tuesday.
EU condemns Moscow’s travel bans on senior policymakers
European Parliament president David Sassoli and Commission Vice President Vera Jourova barred from entering Russia.
Fotolia
04 May 2021
EU leaders have reacted with fury at Russia’s decision to sanction European Parliament president David Sassoli and European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova.
Russia has also barred officials from Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia and Sweden from entering the country in retaliation for sanctions imposed on Russian citizens by the EU.
Russia s foreign ministry said those banned included Jourova, Vice President for values and transparency at the Commission, European Parliament President Sassoli and Jacques Maire, a member of the French delegation at the Council of Europe s Parliamentary Assembly.
Russia has blacklisted eight officials from different European Union countries, including the head director of the Estonian Language Inspectorate (Keeleinspektsioon) Ilmar Tomusk.
The Russian foreign ministry announced on Friday that banning another eight EU officials comes in retaliation for sanctions imposed on Russian citizens in the EU in March. The Kremlin also recently placed Estonia, the U.S, the U.K, Latvia, Lithuania, Georgia, Poland, Ukraine and the Czech Republic on its unfriendly list.
Altogether, Russia banned three officials from the Baltic states: Ivars Abolins, chairman of Latvia s National Electronic Media Council; Maris Baltins, director of the Latvian State Language Center; and Ilmar Tomusk, head of Estonia s Language Inspectorate, Reuters reported.
European Parliament president hopes Russia will lift sanctions against him
According to David Sassoli, his ban is not personal but affects the head of parliament to punish the whole institution
ROME, May 3. /TASS/. President of the European Parliament David Sassoli has expressed optimism that sanctions imposed against him by Moscow will be lifted and he will be able to pay a visit to Moscow in the foreseeable future, he said in an interview published in La Stampa on Monday.
According to Sassoli, his ban is not personal but affects the head of parliament to punish the whole institution. We believe in dialogue, the force of diplomacy, multipolarity, trade, we are not moving troops and we are not aggressive, he said. I hope that this measure (entry ban - TASS) will be quickly lifted and I will be able to go to Moscow to discuss human rights and political freedoms. I think that the nation of this great country expects and deserves it, Sassoli said when asked if he believes that