Russian govt bars entry of Canadian citizens in Russia

Canada on Friday banned and froze assets of 30 Russians linked to the case of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who died in prison after exposing a $230-million tax fraud.

Russia has reacted to Canada announcing “mirror-image” measures on 30 Russian officials linked to human rights violations.

“We have to respond with mirror-image (sanctions),” the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement late yesterday.

“If our Canadian partners like playing sanctions games, we will be forced to respond,” Moscow said.

The ministry announced it had decided to “bar entry to Russia to a whole number of Canadian figures,” adding that this affected “dozens.”

It did not give any names but specified that those targeted are “Russophobic Canadian citizens who have consistently worked to destroy bilateral relations.”