May 1, 2021 Share
Russia on Friday barred eight officials from European Union countries from entering the country in retaliation for sanctions imposed on Russian citizens by the EU.
Russia’s foreign ministry said those banned included Vera Jourova, vice president for values and transparency at the executive European Commission, David Sassoli, the president of the European parliament, and Jacques Maire, a member of the French delegation at the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly.
“The European Union continues to pursue its policy of illegitimate, unilateral restrictive measures against Russian citizens and organizations,” the ministry said in a statement.
It accused the EU of “openly and deliberately” undermining the independence of Russia’s domestic and foreign policy.
Tensions between Russia and the European Union escalated on Friday (30 April) as Moscow barred eight EU officials from entering the country and Brussels warned it could respond in kind.
In the latest row to strain relations, Moscow said its move was a response to sanctions imposed by the European Council last month against four top Russian security officials over the jailing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and a violent police response to protests in his support.
“The European Union continues its policy of unilateral illegitimate restrictive measures targeting Russian citizens and organisations,” the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.
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Russia bars eight EU citizens in retaliation for sanctions
This content was published on April 30, 2021 - 17:40
April 30, 2021 - 17:40
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia on Friday barred eight officials from European Union countries from entering the country in retaliation for sanctions imposed on Russian citizens by the EU.
Russia s foreign ministry said those banned included Vera Jourova, vice president for values and transparency at the executive European Commission, David Sassoli, the president of the European parliament, and Jacques Maire, a member of the French delegation at the Council of Europe s Parliamentary Assembly. The European Union continues to pursue its policy of illegitimate, unilateral restrictive measures against Russian citizens and organisations, the ministry said in a statement.