Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin has announced a list of 120 prominent Australians now permanently banned from country for being “Russophobic”.
The list includes 56 prominent Australians working in media, alongside a number of defence personnel, business people, politicians, mining chiefs and academics.
The Russian foreign ministry announced last night the blacklist had been drawn up in response to “the growing sanctions of the Australian government, which apply to an increasing number of Russian citizens”.
It added that the list could be expanded beyond its current 120. “Taking into account that the official Canberra does not seem inclined to abandon its anti-Russia policy line, and continues to produce new sanctions, Russia will continue updating its stop list.”
Australia has imposed a number of sanctions intended to weaken Russia’s economy and force it to withdraw.
The former ScoMo government also donated a number of pieces of military hardware to the Ukraine to aid in its war against the Russians. Thus far it has included troop carriers and ambulances but has stopped short of sending more lethal military hardware such as missiles.
Ukrainian prime minister Volodymyr Zelensky has also invited Anthony Albanese to visit Ukraine when he visits Europe later this month. A move that has apparently infuriated the Kremlin.
Media identities on Russia’s banned list included Ita Buttrose (ABC), Lachlan Murdoch (News Crop), Michael Miller (News Corp), Mike Sneesby (Nine), Greg Sheridan (The Australian), Andrew Bolt (Sky News), Eric Campbell (ABC), Peter Costello (Nine), Ben English (The Daily Telegraph), Kate Geraghty (SMH), Peter Hartcher (SMH), Stan Grant (ABC), Carrie-Anne Greenback (Nine), Liz Hayes (Nine), Jacquelin Magnay (The Australian), Kellie Parker (Nine), Graham Richardson (The Australian), George Savvides (SBS) and Misha Zelinsky (AFR).
