Ukrainian Crisis Fallout: Russia bans 89 European political and military leaders, including Nick Clegg

Reuters | Haaretz.com | International Affairs

Ban List includes former deputy PM Nick Clegg and former Belgian premier Guy Verhofstadt and targets critics of Moscow over the Ukrainian conflict.

German Chancellor, Angella Merkell and
Russian President Vladmir Putin.
(Credit: via Haaretz.com)

In what may be seen as a set  back for world peace and rebuilding of international relations, Russia has reportedly imposed travel ban on 89 European politicians and military leaders.

In a report by Israel's Haaretz Newspapers, Russia's ban, according to a list seen by Reuters, is a move in the wrong direction, which has "angered Europe and worsened its standoff with the West over Moscow's role in the Ukraine conflict."

The list, reportedly compiled by the Russian foreign ministry and handed to a European Union delegation in Moscow this week, included outspoken critics of Russia as well as security officials.

The Ukrainian crisis started in November 2013 when former President Viktor Yanukovych moved to align Ukraine closer to Russia rather than join Europe - a move favoured by some parts of the country. 

Things quickly went out of hand and  as crowds of Ukrainian protesters seized control of the public spaces and government buildings in Kiev February 2014, embattled former made a hasty moonlight escape from his opulent palace.  For sometime, his whereabouts were unknown.

Eventually Crimea brought a planned Independence Referendum forward, seceding with the YES vote and quickly integrating with Russia.

Crisis escalated in Donetsk and other parts of Ukraine asking for Crimea style referendum.  Kiev's move the quell the riots by force has led to increase in the fighting that has killed more than 6000. In fact, it has been reported that more than 6,200 people have been killed in the fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists.

Since Russia annexed Crimea in March 2014, the EU has imposed economic sanctions, visa bans and asset freezes on scores of Russian and Ukrainian citizens and organizations.

A spokesperson for EU foreign affairs told Reuters that in recent months Russia had denied entry to a number of EU politicians, based on their inclusion on a "confidential 'stop list'".

"We take note that the Russian authorities have decided to share the list. We don't have any other information on legal basis, criteria and process," the spokesperson said.

Asked about the list while on a visit to Ukraine, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it would hamper peace efforts.

"At a time in which we are trying to defuse a persistent and dangerous conflict, this does not contribute towards that," Steinmeier said.

Among those on the list is Uwe Corsepius, current secretary general of the European Union council in Brussels who is due to take over as foreign affairs advisor to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The Russian Foreign Ministry was not immediately available for comment, but those "blacklisted include Britain's former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg and former Belgian premier Guy Verhofstadt, who heads the Liberal group in the European parliament."

The list also carries the names of several former and acting ministers, such as Poland's deputy Justice Minister Robert Kupiecki and former British defence minister Malcolm Rifkind, as well as Swedish tax authority head Eva Lidstrom Adler.

"Last Monday, Germany protested to Russia over its refusal to let a conservative German lawmaker Karl-Georg Wellmann, who had called Russia a "warmonger" earlier this year, into the country." Haaretz reported.