"The European Union continues its policy of illegitimate unilateral restrictive measures against Russian citizens and organizations. In March 2021 alone, six Russians were subjected to unlawful Yesov restrictions.
"This practice runs counter to the UN Charter and the fundamental norms of international law. Accompanied by deliberately dispersed in the Western media anti-Russian hysteria.
"Not supported by evidence. All our proposals to resolve any problematic issues arising between Russia and the EU in the mode of direct professional dialogue are consistently ignored or rejected.
"Such actions of the European Union leave no doubt that their true goal is to restrain the development of our country at all costs. Impose its lopsided concept of a "rules-based world" that undermines international law. To challenge the undisguised challenge of the independence of Russian foreign and domestic policy.
"This is done openly and intentionally. And, of course, with the knowledge and encouragement of the United States, which does not hide its interest in re-turning Europe into an arena of acute geopolitical confrontation.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation is authorized to state that in response to the restrictive measures imposed by the EU Council on 2 and 22 March this year, six Russian citizens are barred from entering Russia in accordance with the Federal Law on Exit from the Russian Federation and Entry to the Russian Federation, No. 114-Fz following citizens of EU member states and representatives of EU officials :
"Ivars ABOLINS, Chairman of the National Council of the Republic of Latvia on electronic media;
"Maris BALTINS, Director of the Centre for State Language of the Republic of Latvia;
"Jacques MAIRE, Member of the French delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe;
"Jorg RAUPACH, Head of the Prosecutor's Office of Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany;
"David Maria SASSOLI, President of the European Parliament;
"Asa SCOTT, Head of the Chemical, Biological, Radiation and Nuclear Safety Laboratory of the Total Defense Research Institute of the Kingdom of Sweden;
"Ilmar TOMUSK, Head of the Language Department of the Republic of Estonia;
"Vera JOUROVA, Vice-President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency." ■