MOSCOW, January 12. /TASS/. Moscow has expanded its sanctions stop-list for British nationals, blackballing 36 politicians, security officials and journalists from the UK, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
"In view of the UK government’s anti-Russian course, which continues actively employing a mechanism of personal sanctions and wages an intensive propaganda campaign with the aim of discrediting and isolating our country on the international stage, a decision was made to additionally include in Russia’s stop-list a number of [UK] Cabinet members, security officials and UK press corps (36 names in total)," the statement from the ministry reads.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, by having intentionally refused to hold a constructive dialogue, London "keeps extending the line of confrontation and together with Washington spreads false information about Russia, fomenting Russophobe sentiments."
"We are forced to remind you that the hostile actions and aggressive rhetoric of UK officials would not be left without an adequate response, while the support of the neo-Nazi Kiev regime will cost its Western masters dearly. History teaches us that not everyone is able to comprehend obvious facts," the statement from the ministry added.
The most recent list of sanctions targeting Russian nationals was announced by the UK Foreign Office in mid-December 2022. In total, according to the British Foreign Office, in response to Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, London has imposed sanctions on over 1,200 Russian citizens and more than 120 Russian companies.
Russia’s special military operation
On February 21, 2022, President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow was recognizing the sovereignty of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics DPR and LPR respectively). Russia signed agreements on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance with their leaders. Moscow recognized the Donbass republics in accordance with the DPR and LPR constitutions within the boundaries of the Donetsk and Lugansk Regions as of the beginning of 2014.
Russian President Putin announced on February 24, 2022 that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics for assistance, he had decided to carry out a special military operation in Ukraine. The DPR and the LPR launched an operation to liberate their territories under Kiev’s control.
From September 23 to September 27, 2022, the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic as well as the Kherson Region and the Zaporozhye Region held a referendum where the majority of voters opted to join Russia.
On September 30, 2022, Russian President Putin and the heads of the DPR, the LPR, and the Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions signed treaties on their accession to Russia. Later, the State Duma and the Federation Council (the lower and upper houses of Russia’s parliament) approved legislation on ratifying these treaties, as well as federal constitutional laws on the accession of the four regions to Russia.