(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The EU Saturday condemned a Russian blacklist of European politicians including Members of the European Parliament as "arbitrary and unjustified." A statement by EU spokesperson for foreign affairs, Catherine Ray, noted that in the past few months several EU politicians have been denied entry when arriving at the Russian border.
The Russian authorities justified these refusals by referring to the inclusion of these individuals on a confidential "stop list." The list with 89 names has now been shared by the Russian authorities, said Ray.
"We consider this measure as totally arbitrary and unjustified, especially in the absence of any further clarification and transparency," said the statement.
In a separate statement, President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz expressed his "dismay" over the blacklist.
"It is unacceptable that this further diminishes mutual trust and hampers any efforts for constructive dialogue to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the current geopolitical crisis," he said.
He noted that European Parliament members have been repeatedly stopped at the Russian border and the EP has not been officially notified which of its Members are being targeted by the sanctions.
Schulz added that on Monday he will again speak to Russia's Ambassador to the EU, "and in case of unsatisfactory answers I reserve the right to take appropriate measures in response."
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