Russia Bans Entry of UK PM Boris Johnson, Other Top Officials Over Sanctions

The retaliatory move comes after heavy sanctions were imposed on Moscow by the UK over the war in Ukraine.

Boris Johnson. 

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@piersmorgan)

Moscow on Saturday, 16 April, banned the entry of United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other top British officials into Russia, as per the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The retaliatory move comes after heavy sanctions were imposed on Russia by the UK over the war in Ukraine.

"In connection with the unprecedented hostile actions of the British government, which expressed, in particular, the introduction of sanctions against higher officials of the Russian Federation, a decision has been made to include key members of the British government and a number of political leaders in the Russian "stop-list"."

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russia

In addition to Johnson, Deputy PM Dominic Rennie Raab, Finance Minister Rishi Sunak, and Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss were also banned from entering Russia. A total of 13 British leaders were included in the "stop-list".

"This step will be taken as a response to the launch of London's forced information-political campaign aimed at the international isolation of Russia, creating conditions for the restraint of our country and the suppression of the domestic economy," Moscow said, warning that "any sanctioned attacks will inevitably hit their initiators and will receive a decisive resistance".

Further, Russia said that the list will expand to include more British politicians and parliamentarians, "who help suppress anti-Russian hysteria, are pushing the "collective West" to use the language of threats".

In March, Moscow had imposed sanctions on American President Joe Biden, his family, and top United States officials, banning their entry into Russia.