Russia sanctions hundreds of Australians including journalists

London: Russia’s Foreign Ministry has sanctioned a broad list of 121 Australian media executives, mining bosses, academics, defence officials and journalists, including the editors of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

The move, announced in Moscow on Wednesday evening, cited the “Russophobic agenda” from the individuals named.

Russia’s foreign ministry is sanctioning an additional 121 Australian citizens.Credit: AP

The Kremlin’s “stop list”, which bans those named from entry to Russia “indefinitely”, was compiled in response to the growing sanctions of the Australian government, the ministry said.

It includes Herald editor Bevan Shields, The Age editor Gay Alcorn as well as Peter Costello, who is also chairman of Nine Entertainment Group that owns The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, and chief executive Mike Sneesby.

Mining magnates Gina Rinehart and Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest had sanctions imposed, along with ABC chairwoman Ita Buttrose, co-chairman of News Corp Lachlan Murdoch and chairman of Seven Group, Kerry Stokes.

Atlassian co-founders Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar, property tycoon Harry Triguboff and Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive Simon Trott will also be banned from entering Russia.

“Entry to the Russian Federation for these persons is closed on an indefinite basis in response to the growing sanctions of the Australian government, which apply to an increasing number of Russian citizens - both officials and their families, as well as representatives of the business community and the media,” the statement said.

The names of journalists and commentators such as Herald international and political editor Peter Hartcher make up roughly half the list, including a spread of foreign correspondents, many who have covered the war, and their editors.

Several Defence officials are also named, including Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell, department secretary Greg Moriarty, navy chief Rear Admiral Mark Hammond, Royal Australian Air Force’s Air Vice-Marshal Darren Goldie and the Australian Defence Force’s Vice Admiral David Johnston.

New South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas is the only elected official included, potentially because of his Lithuanian heritage. The Kremlin slapped a similar ban on all 227 members of the House of Representatives and the Senate in early April.

The statement said the Kremlin reserved the right to add more names to the list.

“Taking into account the fact that Canberra does not intend to abandon the anti-Russian course and continues to produce new sanctions, work on updating the Russian ‘stop list’ will continue,” the statement said.

Russia announced a similar move against dozens of British journalists on Tuesday.

In April, Moscow announced entry bans on the leaders of Australia and New Zealand in tit-for-tat measures after Canberra and Wellington imposed sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Australia has imposed sanctions on Russian military commanders and close associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin after the invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, and Foreign Ministry Director of Information Maria Zakharova were among those sanctioned.

With agencies

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