MOSCOW, March 24 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday it was barring 13 Canadian officials and public figures from entry to the country in response to sanctions earlier imposed by Canada in the wake of Crimea's reunification with Russia.
The list includes several aides to Prime Minister Stephen Harper as well as the head of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Paul Grod.
“This step comes in response to unacceptable actions by the Canadian side that have seriously hurt bilateral relations,” the ministry said in a statement.
Canada joined the US and EU in announcing sanctions last week in response to Crimea rejoining Russia, naming seven Russian and three Crimean officials subject to asset freezes and travel bans.
The region became part of Russia last week following a referendum that saw over 96 percent of voters support the measure.
“We regret that Ottawa has chosen to ignore the free expression of the Crimean citizens, who voted overwhelmingly in favor of the reunification with Russia in accordance with international law and the UN Charter,” the ministry said in a statement criticizing Canada for supporting the government in Kiev, which it calls illegitimate.
Canada’s sanctions targeted top officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin and Crimea's pro-Moscow leader Sergei Aksyonov.
The United States' northern neighbor suspended military cooperation with Russia earlier this month in reaction to the situation in Ukraine, as well as halting participation in an intergovernmental economic commission.
The EU expanded the number of Russian and Ukrainian officials under sanctions to 33 on Friday, just hours after the United States added 20 more officials to its own list.
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday imposed sanctions against nine senior US officials as a proportional response.
