Russia bans entry to 13 Canadian lawmakers, officials in response to sanctions
Posted March 24, 2014 12:41 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Russia has slapped an entry ban on 13 Canadian lawmakers and officials, including Commons Speaker Andrew Scheer and government House leader Peter Van Loan, in retaliation for Canadian sanctions over Ukraine.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry says the move is in response to Canadian travel bans and economic sanctions imposed earlier on a number of Russian officials.
In a statement, the ministry describes those sanctions as “unacceptable action by the Canadian side that has inflicted serious damage to bilateral relations.”
The move follows Canada’s decision to act in unison with the U.S. to introduce sanctions targeting members of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s entourage following Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region.
In addition to Scheer and Van Loan, the Russians have also banned Tory MPs Ted Opitz, James Bezan and Dean Allison, Liberal MPs Irwin Cotler and Chrystia Freeland and NDP MP Paul Dewar.
Also named are Wayne Wouters, the clerk of the privy council; Jean-Francois Tremblay, deputy secretary to the cabinet; and Christine Hogan, assistant secretary to the cabinet.
Sen. Raynell Andreychuk, an independent Liberal senator, is also on the list, along with Paul Grod, national president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
Cotler said on Twitter he considers being named in the Russian sanctions “as a badge of honour.”
The Russians say the Canadian sanctions are unacceptable and have inflicted serious damage on relations between the two countries.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Russia remains open to “constructive” co-operation with Canada, but added that “we don’t need such co-operation more than Ottawa does.”
With files from The Associated Press
