Moscow has earlier banned the entry of nine Canadian citizens for their anti-Russian course
The Canadian Foreign Ministry told TASS correspondent on Monday that the Canadian government considers Russia’s sanctions against nine Canadian citizens unreasonable and unacceptable.
“We are aware of Russia’s decision to ban nine Canadians from entering Russia in response to sanctions imposed by Canada on March 24”, – the ministry explained, – “Russian sanctions against Canadian citizens, including members of the government, are unacceptable and unjustified.”
Canada’s foreign ministry said in a written response to a TASS query that Ottawa had imposed anti-Russian sanctions in connection with the situation around Alexei Navalny and his supporters.
“We remain deeply concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in Russia and the narrowing of space for civil society and independent voices”, – the Foreign Ministry said.
The ministry specified that Canada supports those on the Russian sanctions list “and will continue to work with partners in defence of democracy”.
Earlier, Russia put nine Canadian citizens involved in shaping and pursuing an anti-Russian course on the blacklist, banning them from entering the country. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova explained that this was done “in response to the unlawful sanctions imposed by the Canadian government on March 24, 2021 against Russian citizens under the spurious pretext of allegedly persecuting Russian citizen Alexei Navalny, who was convicted of unlawful acts.” At the same time, Russia is still ready to build constructive relations with Canada, despite the Russophobic attitudes cultivated by part of the Canadian establishment, the diplomat noted.