Scottish ministers among those barred from Russia in new wave of sanctions
The Russian foreign ministry released a list of people no longer allowed into the country.
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Your support makes all the difference.The Russian government has barred a number of Scottish politicians from the country in response to aid given to Ukraine following the invasion.
In a statement on Monday, the Russian foreign ministry said the additions to the countryās āstop listā were due to ācontinued application by the UK Government of the mechanism of sanctionsā against Russians.
Holyrood Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson and Ukraine minister Neil Gray were all placed on the list.
SNP MSP Fiona Hyslop was also sanctioned but was mistakenly described as āScottish cabinet secretary for economic, labour and cultural affairsā ā Ms Hyslop was economy, fair work and culture secretary until last year.
On Twitter, Mr Robertson said: āThe Russian foreign ministry clearly doesnāt like criticism of Moscowās invasion of Ukraine and dislikes those who support Ukrainian freedom.ā
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, Scottish Green co-leader ā and Scottish Government minister ā Lorna Slater and her fellow Green MSP Ross Greer have also been placed on the list, as has Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton.
Mr Blackford said: āThe Russian regimeās brutal invasion of Ukraine must be challenged and the war crimes it is committing in the country must be held to account.
āThe SNP will continue to stand up and oppose Russiaās illegal actions in Ukraine and we welcome the sanctions that have been imposed so far.
āHowever, it must not stop there and we will continue to urge the UK Government to take the steps it can to go further against individuals and institutions of key economic and strategic interest to the Russian government.
āThe SNP Scottish Government is proud to play itsĀ part in supporting our Ukrainian friends, including through aid and the resettlementĀ of UkrainianĀ refugees.
āWe must be united in the face of President Putinās aggression and the co-ordinated solidarity shown for Ukraine must and cannot waiver.ā
Responding to the news, Ms Slater said: āVladimir Putinās outrageous and illegal invasion of Ukraine has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions more people.
āIf the cost of speaking out against Putinās war crimes is a ban on visiting Russia then I will live with these consequences, but I will not stop supporting Ukraine.ā
While Mr Greer said: āWatching the bravery of the Ukrainian people in recent months has been absolutely inspiring.
āIf the cost of speaking up for the rights of Ukraine, and condemning Putinās war, is a ban from visiting Russia then I think Iāll be able to cope.ā
Mr Cole-Hamilton said he would wear the ban as a ābadge of honourā.
āOne day, after Putinās army has been defeated and his government swept away by the tides of history, I hope that I will have the chance to visit and meet with those who have bravely stood up against the Russian regime,ā he said.
āUntil that happens, I will wear this ban as a badge of honour.
āThe UK must redouble its efforts to help Ukraine achieve victory on the battlefield, while here in Scotland, our Government must get serious about patching the holes in the refugee scheme and helping those who have fled to our shores.ā
Nicola Sturgeon was similarly sanctioned earlier this year.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy, shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy and former Nato secretary general George Robertson were also among those banned from entering Russia.
A number of journalists were included in Mondayās sanctions, including Piers Morgan, BBC newsreader Huw Edwards and ITV journalist Robert Peston.