Britain joins E.U. in criticizing Russia’s travel blacklist

Britain, joined the European Union in expressing criticism at Russia's 'stop list' that entailed blacklisting 89 European politicians as well as military leaders from traveling to Russia.

In an interview with BBC, Former British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkin, described the blacklist as a Russian "tantrum", citing the incident as a tactless move made by the Russian government in response to sanctions enforced by the E.U.

He added, "It shows we are making an impact because they wouldn't have reacted unless they felt very sore at what had happened."

The list as seen and reported by Reuters has caused anger all across Europe, aggravating Russia's predicament with the West on Moscow's part in the Ukraine strife.

"If Russia thinks this action will cause the E.U. to change its position on sanctions, it is wrong", a spokeswoman for the British Foreign Office said.

Recently, Russia enforced a travel ban on various European leaders, one of which included a German lawmaker, Karl-Georg Wellmann, who heads the German-Ukrainian group and is widely known for his sharp criticisms against Kremlin.

Russian officials also blacklisted Wellmann and banned him from entering Russia until November 2019. The German politician told newspaper reporters that he was only informed of the travel ban after his plane landed at Moscow Sheremetyevo airport and after which he was commanded by the airport authorities to take the next flight to Berlin.

Wellmann said, "I have no understanding and no explanation for this action. I had a high-ranking invitation and was scheduled to hold talks in Moscow about the future of Ukraine - expressly with the involvement of the Russians."

The politician had reportedly 'spent the night in a transit area' at an airport in Moscow, before heading back home.

The travel ban seemed to be a stinging retort to the sanctions placed by the European Union in ratifying Russia for its advocate role in undermining Ukraine. The E.U. sanctions included travel bans and asset freezes on 150 Russian officials.

A report from the Russian Interfax news agency said that an unnamed Russian official from the Foreign Ministry had told them that "it was done as a response to the campaign of sanctions that has been unleashed against Russia by some of the European Union states, with Germany at the head."

Earlier, the European Union through its spokesperson issued a statement on Russia's 'stop list' and emphasized that the move was unjustifiable.

"We don't have any other information on legal basis, criteria and process of this decision. We consider this measure as totally arbitrary and unjustified, especially in the absence of any further clarification and transparency", the spokesperson said.