Russia bans 89 EU politicians from entering the country, including Nick Clegg
Moscow has imposed a travel ban on 89 European Union politicians and officials, including the former deputy prime minister
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Your support makes all the difference.Russia has blacklisted 89 European Union politicians and officials among them Nick Clegg, the former deputy prime minister.
The list imposes a travel ban on the named individuals.
Martin Schulz, the president of the European parliament, on Saturday called the list "unacceptable" and warned that it "hampers any efforts for constructive dialogue".
Moscow is thought to have imposed the travel ban in response to EU sanctions against Russia drawn up over Russia's support for separatist fighters in the Ukraine conflict.
In recent months a number of EU politicians who attempted to travel to Russia have been turned away at the border.
An EU spokesman said the list had been handed over after repeated requests for details from the EU and the member states concerned.
"The list with 89 names has now been shared by the Russian authorities. We don't have any other information on legal basis, criteria and process of this decision," the spokesman said.
Other names on the list are thought to include: Sir Malcolm Rifkind, the former foreign secretary; General Sir Nicholas Houghton, the chief of defence staff; Philip Dunne, the defence minister; and Andrew Robathan, a former defence minister.
In the UK, the Foreign Office strongly condemned the Russian move saying there was "absolutely no justification" for the list and said it would make no difference to EU sanctions against Russia.
(Additional reporting by agencies)
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