A list of 228 Australians is on the sanctions list published by the Russian Foreign Ministry. Among them, the name of the country’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison is Listed.
At the same time, the Australian federal government has already implemented a long list of sanctions against Russia. 500 Russian individuals and organizations have been blacklisted. Imports of oil, coal and gas from Russia have been banned.
In response to the ban, Scott Morrison told the media that he is happy to wear it as a “badge of honor” to stand up for democracy. “This is a clear threat against the issues I stand for” he said.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been banned to entering Russia by President Vladimir Putin in response to Australia’s sanctions on Russian citizens.
Moscow says Russia banned the entry of 228 Australians after Australia recently imposed sanctions on six Russians.
Russia’s “stop list” includes the prime minister, members of the National Security Council, the House of Representatives, Senates, regional legislature, Kremlin said in a statement.
The statement added that the move was in response to the Australian government’s unfriendly move.
Russia has warned Australia that any Australian military, businessman, expert or journalist could be “blacklisted” if they have an anti-Russian attitude.
Commenting on Moscow’s “Tit for-Tat” ban, Scott Morrison said: “I have faced a lot of criticism, not only from Russia, but also from countries in our own region.”
“Throughout my political life in the economy, at the border, at national security and at social service policy, I have always been very clear,” he added.
The Australian government has provided about 157 million in humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine and the resettlement of refugees since the start of the Russian invasion.
In addition, the federal government has promised to issue 3-year temporary humanitarian visas for Ukrainians this year as well as next year.