Russians sanctioned by Canada will be barred from entering the country, according to Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino and the Canadian Border Service (CBSA).
In a statement from CBSA, Mendicino announced that he would introduce changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) that would prevent these sanctioned persons from coming to the country.
“These changes will allow the Canadian Border Protection Agency to deny entry and remove persons subject to sanctions, and will allow Canadian Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship (IRCC) officials to refuse visas,” the statement said.
“Once effective, these IRPA amendments will apply to all foreign nationals subject to Canadian sanctions, as well as to all accompanying family members.”
The government has sanctioned more than 1,000 individuals and legal entities from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus in retaliation for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to Global Affairs Canada.
Among those sanctioned are senior Russian officials such as Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, billionaire oligarch Roman Abramovich, the eldest daughters of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Katerina Tikhonova and Maria Vorontsova, and Putin himself.
Sanctions prevent them from receiving financial and property services in Canada or from Canadians outside Canada.
“In the face of the brutal attack of Putin’s regime, Canada stands with Ukraine. “Banning close associates and key supporters of the Putin regime, including those responsible for this unprovoked aggression, from entering our country is one of the many ways we hold Russia accountable for its crimes,” Mendicino said in a statement.
“We will continue to exhaust all possibilities for maintaining freedom and democracy, punishing Russia and supporting Ukraine.
Russia is sanctioning Canadians in retaliation for Canadian sanctions – including prime ministers, military officials and journalists.
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