Russia Adds 235 Australian Media and Politicians to Ban List
More Australian reporters, defence lobbyists, military contractor executives, and politicians are now prohibited from entering Russia due to their ‘Russophobic’ views.
The Kremlin has recently added 235 Australians, including former Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews and a number of other politicians, to a list of individuals banned from entering Russia.
This action follows Canberra’s decision to impose autonomous sanctions on Russia in response to the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. These sanctions were initially put in place in 2014 at the start of the Russo-Ukrainian War and were extended in early 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine, as well as in 2023 as the conflict escalated.
Since the 2022 invasion began, the Russian Ministry has reported that over 444,000 Ukrainian service personnel have been killed or wounded.
United Nations data up to February 2024 shows that over 28,000 civilians and 5,962 foreign aid and volunteer workers have been killed by Russian forces.
As a result of the 2022 sanctions, the Russian government released a list of 41 Australian reporters, defence lobbyists, and local council members who are prohibited from entering the country. This list includes executives from military contractors Thales Australia, DroneShield, and BAE Systems.
The sanctions include restrictions on the import-export and supply of certain goods, as well as limitations on commercial activities in Australia, such as real estate transactions and travel bans on individuals associated with Putin’s government. The sale of arms, specific luxury goods, and machinery used in oil exploration is also banned.
The list of banned individuals includes various prominent figures from Victoria and South Australia, such as former Premier Daniel Andrews, Deputy Premier Ben Carroll, and Liberal Premier Stephen Marshall.
Political Bias Against Russia Behind the Ban, Says Moscow
Russia’s foreign ministry stated that the ban on media figures and public figures like politicians is a response to their support of “politically-motivated sanctions” as part of what Russia perceives as the “West’s Russophobic campaign.”
Despite this, Russia has faced criticism for restricting foreign journalists and independent media within its borders, limiting the flow of information to the Russian public.
Critics argue that these measures are aimed at silencing dissenting voices and controlling the information available to the Russian public.
One such measure is the requirement for foreign journalists to obtain special accreditation from the Russian government to report within the country. This process has become increasingly challenging, with many journalists facing delays or denials.
In addition, Russia has passed laws restricting the operations of foreign media outlets within the country, such as requiring them to register as “foreign agents” if they receive funding from abroad and engage in political activities in Russia.
The West’s “Russophobic” campaign has led Moscow to impose further restrictions on those they view as spreading disinformation.
According to a statement on the Russian Interior Ministry’s website, 235 Australian nationals are now indefinitely banned from entering Russia due to their anti-Russia promotion efforts.
An ongoing travel advisory against Australians traveling to Russia has been in place since 2022 from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
There is a travel advisory warning against Australian nationals traveling to Russia due to negative comments made by Russian authorities towards Western countries and the possibility of arbitrary enforcement of local laws.
The complete list of banned Australians is accessible online.
