Russia has imposed sanctions against the leadership of Australia and New Zealand

The Foreign Ministry said that the authorities of the countries support the actions to contain Russia and the "Russophobic course." Moscow banned 228 Australians and 130 New Zealanders from entering in response to "unfriendly" actions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has banned the entry of the highest leadership of Australia in response to "unfriendly" actions, follows from a message on the agency's website.

The list includes Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Deputy Barnaby Joyce, Home Secretary Karen Andrews, Treasury Secretary Saima Birmingham, Defense Secretary Peter Dutton, Foreign Secretary Maryse Payne, and Attorney General Mikaelia Cash. The restrictions affected deputies of the House of Representatives, members of the Senate and the Legislative Assembly. A total of 228 Australians contributed to the sanctions restrictions.

The Foreign Ministry called the entry ban a response to the actions of the Australian government, which is "ready to support any action aimed at containing Russia." Later, the agency will include in the list the Australian military, businessmen, experts and media people who "contribute to inciting a negative attitude" towards Russia.

In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs banned the entry of 130 representatives of New Zealand. The sanctions included Governor General Cynthia Quiro, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, his deputy Grant Robertson, Foreign Minister Nanaya Mahuta, Defense Minister Pini Henare and other ministers. Now the commanders of the troops, director general of the Government Communications Security Bureau Andrew Hampton, director general of the Security and Intelligence Service Rebecca Kitteridge, as well as a number of parliamentarians will not be able to come to Russia.

Moscow pointed to the actions of the cabinet of ministers, which forgot about their interests and generally accepted decorum, and also began to follow a “Russophobic course”.