Speaking to reporters during a visit to Dnipropetrovsk in eastern Ukraine, Frank-Walter Steinmeier criticized the ban and called on Russia to be more transparent.
"I can only say that, apart from the fact that I don't find it particularly wise to declare such travel bans, at the very least, those concerned should have been informed about the reservations against them, or at least those lists should be made public," the German diplomat said.
“At a time when we are trying to defuse a persistent and dangerous conflict in the middle of Europe, this does not contribute toward that," Steinmeier added.
Major news agencies reported that several top European officials said they were proud to be included on Russia’s black list.
The list, revealed to European diplomats Thursday, reportedly includes former and present members of parliament and prime ministers and ministers who have been vocal critics of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for the annexation of Crimea and the violence in eastern Ukraine.
Since Russia annexed Crimea in March 2014, the EU has imposed economic sanctions, visa bans and asset freezes on Russian and Ukrainian individuals and organizations.
As estimated by the United Nations, more than 6,200 people have been killed in fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Russia has dismissed accusations by Western powers, the NATO alliance and Ukraine that it is supporting the separatists with arms and troops, saying any Russians fighting there are “volunteers.”
[voanews.com]
30/5/15
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Related:
European External Action Service: Statement by the Spokesperson on the Russian "stop list"
EU criticizes 'unjustified' Russian travel blacklist...
EU-Reaktionen auf "Schwarze Liste": Scharfe Kritik an Einreiseverboten ...
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2014:
European MEP denied entry to Russia amid speculation of new sanctions against Europe
Russische "Stopp-Liste" für EU-Politiker?...
Moscow has denied an entry visa to MEP Rebecca Harms regardless of the investigation over the Ukrainian citizen Nadezhda Savchenko, a Ukrainian army serviceman facing a trial in Russia for her wrongdoings, Vladimir Chizhov, the ambassador to the EU told a group of Russian reporters here Friday....
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European Union anger at Russian travel blacklist...
ReplyDeleteThe European Union has responded angrily to Russia's entry ban against 89 European politicians, officials and military leaders.
Those banned are believed to include general secretary of the EU council Uwe Corsepius, and former British deputy prime minister Nick Clegg.
Russia shared the list after several requests by diplomats, the EU said.
The EU called the ban "totally arbitrary and unjustified" and said no explanation had been provided.
Many of those on the list are outspoken critics of the Kremlin, and some have been turned away from Russia in recent months.
The EU said that it had asked repeatedly for the list of those banned, but nothing had been provided until now.
"The list with 89 names has now been shared by the Russian authorities. We don't have any other information on legal basis, criteria and process of this decision," an EU spokesman said on Saturday..........BBC
31/5/15
Italian foreign ministry wants Russia to explain criteria of entry denial...
ReplyDeleteItaly wants Russia to clarify the criteria it uses when banning European citizens to enter the country, the Italian foreign ministry said on Sunday.
"It is absolutely unclear which reasons and criteria are used to make this blacklist. Hence, it hinders the resumption of dialogue between the European Union and Russia Italy has been insistently standing for," the ministry said.
According to western media, a blacklist of 89 persons has been referred by the Russian side to a number of European diplomatic missions in Russia. On May 30, a top-ranking source in the Russian foreign ministry confirmed these reports.
"We would like to refrain from comments on the names of people who were barred from entering the Russian Federation, although [their surnames] appeared in some media outlets," the source said. "At the same time, we confirm that such lists have been handed to our European partners."
He reminded that Russia had recommended that before planning visits to Russia citizens of those countries which imposed sanctions on the Russian Federation should contact Russian consular services to make sure they were not banned from entering the country. "However, our partners preferred not to do so and asked to notify them through diplomatic channels," he said. "So, the above-mentioned lists were sent to them."....TASS
31/5/15