Russia blacklists 8 EU officials in retaliation for sanctions

EU condemns Moscow’s tit-for-tat measures, says it reserves right ‘to take appropriate measures in response’.

Russia has blacklisted eight officials from European Union countries, barring them from entering the country in retaliation for sanctions imposed on Russian citizens by the bloc. Russia’s foreign ministry said on Friday those banned included Vera Jourova, vice-president for values and transparency at the executive European Commission; David Sassoli, the president of the European Parliament; and Jacques Maire, a member of the French delegation at the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly. “The European Union continues to pursue its policy of illegitimate, unilateral restrictive measures against Russian citizens and organisations,” the ministry said in a statement.