Australia promises to impose sanctions on 28 more Russians

MOSCOW/BRUSSELS, Oct 3 (PRIME) -- Australia plans to expand the sanction list of Russians by including 28 people connected to the recent referendums on accession of new territories into the country, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement published on October 2.

“Additional targeted financial sanctions and travel bans will be imposed on 28 Russian-appointed separatists, ministers and senior officials. Among them are individuals who are flouting international law to legitimize Russia's illegal actions in Ukraine through sham referenda, disinformation and intimidation,” the statement read.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in an interview to RNZ radio station that the country was analyzing new sanctions on Russia, and may decide on toughening sanctions in two weeks.

The Ukrainian government coordinated a new sanction list of 3,600 Russian individuals and companies, and plans to strengthen the sanction pressure on them with the help of the Group of Seven leading industrial nations, the Economy Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said that the list includes the children and relatives of President Vladimir Putin and his closest associates, representatives of the Russian regional elites and authorities, top military officers, Russian oligarchs, representatives of the governments of the Donetsk and Luhansk self-proclaimed republics, and foreign citizens who observed the referenda on accession of new territories to Russia.

Ukraine also slapped sanctions on the key system-forming mining, energy, communications, logistics, and other Russian companies and banks and companies.

An E.U. source told PRIME that the permanent representatives of E.U. countries may announce a new sanction package over accession of the new territories immediately after approving the eighth one. The source also confirmed preliminary agreement over the eighth package that was reached on September 30.

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