Russia blacklists 213 MPs in retaliation for London sanctions
Moscow blacklists 213 Tory and 74 Labour MPs in retaliation for London s sanctions.
Russia imposed sanctions against 287 British Parliament members of Parliament in a move in response to the blacklisting of Russian lawmakers in London last month. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow has banned some Conservative and Labour MPs from Russia, saying that they were the most active spreaders of rassophobic hysteria in the UK.
On March 11, the UK sanctioned 386 Russian State Duma deputies for their decision to vote in favor of recognition of Donetsk and Lugansk as independent states. Moscow has announced the blacklisting of some members of the House of Commons, citing the principle of reciprocity.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said 213 MPs of the ruling Conservative party and 74 MPs of the opposition Labour party took the most active part in the establishment of anti-Russian sanctions instruments in London and contributed to the groundless whipping up of Russophobic hysteria in the UK. The House of Commons has a total of 650 MPs.
Hostile rhetoric and far-fetched accusations from the mouths of British parliamentarians not only condone the hostile course of London, but are also used by opponents of mutually respectful dialogue with Russia to undermine the foundation of bilateral cooperation, the ministry said, adding that it will continue to work on expanding anti-Russian sanctions, given London's ongoing activity to expand anti-Russian sanctions.
On April 16, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was sanctioned by the British government, two days after Russia retaliated against US and Canadian lawmakers who followed London's example. The UK has risen ahead of its allies in calling for Russia's international isolation over the conflict in Ukraine.
Russia attacked the neighboring state in late February, after Ukraine failed to implement the terms of the Minsk agreements, first signed in 2014, and Moscow s eventual recognition of the Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. The German and French Minsk Protocol was designed to give the breakaway regions special status within the Ukrainian state.
The Kremlin has demanded that Ukraine officially declare itself a neutral country that will never join the US-led NATO military bloc. Kiev insists that the Russian offensive was unprovoked and has denied it plans to retake the two republics by force.