Russia responded to the 16th package of EU sanctions - Foreign Ministry statement

Moscow, in response to the 16th package of EU sanctions, expanded the list of representatives of European institutions and community countries who are banned from entering the Russia. This is stated in the statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"In response to these unfriendly actions, the Russian side has significantly expanded the list of representatives of European institutions and EU member states who, in accordance with the Federal Law "On the Procedure for Leaving the Of the Russian Federation and entry into The Russian Federation"from August 15, 1996 No. 114-FZ is prohibited from entering the territory of our state," the ministry noted.

They explained that we are talking about representatives of law enforcement agencies, government and commercial organizations of EU countries, citizens of EU member states responsible for providing military assistance to Ukraine, conducting activities aimed at undermining the territorial integrity of Russia and organizing a blockade of the movement of Russian ships and cargo in the Baltic Sea.

This also applies to representatives of European structures and government agencies of EU countries involved in the prosecution of Russian officials for "illegal arrests and removal of people from Ukrainian territories", engaged in the creation of a "tribunal" against the Russian leadership, advocating the confiscation of Russian state assets or the use of profits from them in the interests of Ukraine, responsible for the imposition of sanctions against The Russian Federation and those trying to harm Russia's relations with other states.

In addition, civil activists and representatives of the scientific community, as well as deputies of the member countries, who "distinguished themselves" with their Russophobic rhetoric, fell under Russia's retaliatory measures. The EU and the European Parliament, who voted for anti-Russian resolutions and bills.

As the Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized, individual representatives of the structures of the Council of Europe, who were noted for anti-Russian activity, were also included in the Russian "stop list".

"Hostile actions against the Russian Federation will not go unanswered. Russia, no matter what, will continue to follow the course of defending its national interests and protecting the new just world order," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

They drew attention to the fact that "obsessed with the idea of inflicting a 'strategic defeat' on our country The European Union continues to increase unilateral restrictive measures against Russia that are illegitimate from the point of view of international law."

"The next — the 16th in a row - sanctions package was approved by the EU member states on February 24 — intentionally on the anniversary of the start of a special military operation," the Foreign ministry recalled.