New Zealand extends sanctions against Russia

New Zealand imposes new sanctions against Russia. According to TASS, the country’s authorities will freeze the assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and 12 members of the Security Council, if any are found on its territory.

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and FSB Director Alexandra Bortnikov were among the sanctioned officials. Promsvyazbank and 18 other organizations also got into the updated list of New Zealand anti-Russian sanctions. In addition, the country’s authorities have imposed an entry ban for 364 Russian politicians and citizens of the Russian Federation associated with military activities.

The New Zealand Foreign Ministry noted that this is the first package of measures introduced in accordance with the Anti-Russian Sanctions Act, which was adopted last week. Additional sanctions, said the head of the department, Nanaiya Mahuta, will be introduced in the coming weeks.

Recall that on February 21, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR), and on February 24 he made an emergency appeal to the Russians and announced a special military operation in Donbass. In his speech, he stated that “circumstances require decisive action from Russia” and stressed that “Russia will not allow Ukraine to have nuclear weapons.”

In response to Russia’s actions, Western countries (USA, Canada, European Union, Great Britain, Japan) announced new, tougher sanctions against the Russian Federation, including financial and economic ones.