Putin's blacklist angers EU: 89 politicians banned from entering Russia

European officials on Saturday criticised Russia's "blacklist" of 89 politicians and military officials banned from entering Russia, which has angered Europe and worsened the dispute between the West and Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, reports the Patria News Agency.

Namely, in recent months, Moscow has prevented several European politicians from entering the country, citing a confidential list whose details it has not disclosed, which is a response to the sanctions imposed by the 28 member states of the European Union "due to Crimea's decision in the 2014 referendum to join Russia, as well as due to the Kremlin's participation in the conflict in eastern Ukraine".

However, details began to emerge on Friday, a few days after Russia denied entry to the conservative German MP Karl-Georg Wellmann, chairman of the German-Ukrainian friendship group in the Bundestag.

Reuters reported on Saturday that the list includes 89 European politicians and military officials, critics of Russia's role in eastern Ukraine.

Nearly 6,300 people have died in the conflict between the Ukrainian army and rebels, which broke out in April 2014. The West accuses the Kremlin of supporting and arming pro-Russian separatists, which Moscow strongly denies.

According to Reuters, which had access to the list, it was compiled by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and sent to the EU Delegation in Moscow this week.

-Russian authorities have decided to share the list. We have no information about the legal basis, criteria, and procedure, said the spokesperson for the European diplomatic service.

According to Finnish television Yle, the list includes, in addition to Wellmann, Green MEP Rebecca Harms, liberal and former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, and former Polish Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek.

The list also includes Deputy British Prime Minister Nick Clegg, former European Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Füle, and French intellectual Bernard-Henri Lévy.

Berlin has requested further clarification from Moscow so that the people on the list know why they are banned from entering Russia and can take appropriate legal action, the German Foreign Ministry reported, according to dpa.

The EU has imposed sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, on 151 Russians and Ukrainians due to Russia's annexation of Crimea and support for pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine, Hina writes.