Moscow bans 287 UK lawmakers from Russia, drawing British sarcasm
(Reuters) -Russia on Wednesday banned 287 British members of parliament from getting into the nation and accused them of fuelling “Russophobic hysteria” in Britain, drawing a defiant response from Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Britain has, alongside allies, imposed far-reaching sanctions in opposition to Moscow’s rich oligarchs and political elites, together with President Vladimir Putin.
Russia’s international ministry stated the sanctions on members of the Home of Commons had been in response to Britain imposing related restrictions on 386 members of its personal decrease home of parliament on March 11.
“These individuals… took essentially the most energetic half within the institution of anti-Russian sanctions devices in London, and contribute to the groundless whipping up of Russophobic hysteria within the UK,” a international ministry assertion stated.
The record of 287 names included present and former ministers in addition to a number of individuals who now not function members of parliament. One former lawmaker, Dominic Grieve, seems twice.
“All these 287 ought to regard it as a badge of honour,” Johnson, who was himself banned from Russia on April 16, instructed parliament.
The Kremlin has beforehand singled out Johnson as “essentially the most energetic participant within the race to be anti-Russian” and this week warned Britain of a “proportional response” if it continued to impress Ukraine to strike targets in Russia.
Member of parliament Chris Bryant, a long-time critic of Russia, raised a degree of order within the debating chamber to complain: “I am completely distressed that I am not on the record.”
(Reporting by Reuters; Enhancing by Alex Richardson and Jonathan Oatis)
