Moscow (TDI): In response to the EU’s 16th Sanctions Package, Russia has announced that it will expand the list of representatives from European countries and institutions, prohibiting them from entering Russia.
The decision was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Sergey Lavrov, on Thursday.
According to Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the decision was taken under Federal Law No. 114-FZ of August 15, 1996, On Procedures to Enter and Exit the Russian Federation.
On the third anniversary of Russia’s war on Ukraine, the European Union imposed its 16th sanction package on Russia.
The package banned additional 48 individuals and 35 entities, inside Europe, who were responsible for threatening the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.
The EU also imposed full-fledged sanctions on three Russian companies, who were accused of transporting Russian crude oil and energy products, thereby generating substantial profits for the Russian government.
Also Read: EU imposes 16th package of sanctions on Russia
The sanctioned companies were subjected to the asset freeze, and the sanctioned individuals including businessmen were prohibited from entering the European countries.
Altogether, the 16th Sanctioned Package, announced by the European Union, on February 24, included 2400 individuals and entities from operating inside Europe.
Answering the sanctions imposed by the EU, the Russian Foreign Minister said, “The Russian side has significantly expanded the list of representatives of European institutions and EU member states who are prohibited from entering Russia’s territory in accordance with Federal Law No. 114-FZ of August 15, 1996, On Procedures to Enter and Exit the Russian Federation.”
⚡️In response to [the] unfriendly actions, the Russian Side has expanded the list of representatives of European institutions & EU member states who are prohibited from entering Russia’s territory
❌ Hostile actions against Russia will not go unansweredhttps://t.co/qPswmU6NKU pic.twitter.com/1lpdeNQliq
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) March 13, 2025
He further said that the European countries are “stubbornly fixated on inflicting strategic defeat” on Russia.
“The European Union continues to ramp up its unilateral restrictive measures against Russia, which are illegitimate from the international law perspective,” the Foreign Minister noted.
The initiatives were taken under the recent “stop list” include the representatives of European law enforcement agencies, commercial organizations, and citizens who have been providing military aid to Ukraine and blocking movement of Russian cargoes in the Baltic Sea.
Also Read: Russia Seeks Peace, But Ready to Fight for Self-Defense: Envoy
Furthermore, the “stop list” includes the representatives of the European Organizations who have been involved in the prosecution of Russian officials on account of “illegal arrests and deporting people from Ukrainian territories,” as well as some representatives from the Council of Europe.
The Foreign Minister also called out the civil society activists and academics for their “explicit Russophobic rhetoric,” and banned them from traveling to Russia.
Moreover, the European Members of Parliament who have voted in favour of anti-Russia resolutions and bills have also been prohibited from entering in Russia.
The Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, stated that the hostile actions taken against Russia will not go unanswered, and guaranteed that Russia will continue to pursue its policy to uphold its national interests and promote a new and fairer international order.
