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Moscow has said entry bans for nine Canadians are “retaliatory measures” against sanctions imposed on Russian officials in March.
Russia has announced tit-for-sanctions against nine Canadian high-ranking officials, including Justice Minister Alexey Navalny, after taking similar measures in response to treatment by Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday that the nine Canadians had been banned from entering Russia “without a specified deadline.”
Prohibited Canadians include Justice Minister David Lametti, prison chief Anne Kelly and Canadian Forces Intelligence Command Commander Scott Bishop.
Deputy Defense Minister Jody Thomas was also accompanied by Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Brenda Lucki and Deputy Brian Brennan.
Army Chief of Staff Mike Rouleau, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Prime Minister Marci Surkes Justin Trudeau are also on the list.
Moscow has said entry bans on March 24 are aimed at nine Russian officials and are “retaliatory measures.”
Canada said in its day that its sanctions were in response to “gross” human rights violations and Navalny’s silence, the most outspoken criticism of President Vladimir Putin’s home.
Navalny is currently serving a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for “violations of parole.”
The Canadian sanctions – aimed at Russian officials by Alexander Bortnikov, head of the powerful federal security service (FSB) – included a freeze on assets.
Navalny imprisonment
Navalny was arrested by a Russian opposition figure on his return from Russia in January and was treated there by German authorities with what he concluded was poisoning in Russia with a banned nerve agent.
The Kremlin says it has not seen any evidence of poisoning and that imprisonment is not political.
The anti-corruption campaign called for a hunger strike in March behind bars to demand proper medical treatment a growing list of health complaints, which includes gorings.
In an increasingly vulnerable state of hunger strike, Navalny was taken to a prison hospital on April 20, amid warnings from the West of the serious consequences of his death.
The 45-year-old politician called off the strike on Tuesday. On Monday, his group said they had returned to the Pokrov Penitentiary Colony, 100 km (60 miles) west of Moscow.
The European Union and the United States have also imposed new sanctions on Moscow since Navalny returned to Russia for treatment.
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