Support The Moscow Times!

Russia Bars Entry to 'Anti-Russian' Britons in Response to Human Rights, Corruption Sanctions

Sergei Vedyashkin / Moskva News Agency

Russia has barred entry to 'anti-Russian' British officials in retaliation to human rights and anti-corruption sanctions from London, Moscow announced Monday.

Britain in December banned entry to three Russians accused of torturing LGBT people in Chechnya and later to 14 Russians in April as part of global Magnitsky sanctions.

“We consider London’s unjustified attacks to be a clear demonstration of its leadership’s true intentions regarding the further alignment of its Russian course, namely the desire for destruction on the bilateral track,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.

“The ease with which London ‘designates’ perpetrators and determines their ‘punishment’ can’t be called anything other than an attempt to interfere in another state’s internal affairs and exert pressure on the Russian justice system,” it added.

Without naming names, the Foreign Ministry said it has imposed sanctions against a “proportionate number of British representatives closely involved in anti-Russian activities.”

“They are banned from entering Russian territory,” it said in a statement.

The government agency vowed an “adequate proportional response” to further sanctions and called on Britain to “abandon the groundless confrontational line toward our country.”

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more