Russia puts more Kiwis on indefinite travel ban

Russia has blacklisted 32 more Kiwis – including defence force leaders, mayors, councillors, academics and journalists – in response to what the embassy has described as a ‘‘Russophobic agenda’’.

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued statement said those included on the list had been banned from entering Russia on an ‘‘indefinite basis’’ in response to New Zealand government sanctions applied to ‘‘an increasing number of Russian citizens’’.

The new list of banned Kiwis includes Auckland mayor Phil Goff, Wellington mayor Andy Foster, Nelson mayor Rachel Reese, Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel and Dunedin mayor Aaron Hawkins, among other elected officials.

It also includes high-ranking members of the New Zealand Defence Force, along with academics and journalists – including four Stuff reporters and columnists.

The blacklisting follows a range of sanctions being imposed on Russia in response to the February invasion of Ukraine.

The statement, published on the Russian language foreign ministry website, also included a warning that more names could be added to the list of people with ‘‘personal sanctions’’ against them.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement they were unsurprised that Russia had added further New Zealanders to its travel ban list.

‘‘Aotearoa New Zealand, in concert with the international community, has been applying tough sanctions on Russia as a means to restrict the Putin regime’s ability to continue waging war on Ukraine and harming civilians.

‘‘It’s disappointing to see Russia deepening its isolation from the international community rather than engaging with the clear mess

age that it is being sent: to cease its senseless war of aggression in Ukraine and withdraw its troops.’’

Earlier this year, 130 New Zealand politicians and officials – including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Cabinet ministers, parliamentarians from all political parties, the governor-general, and military and spy chiefs – were also blacklisted by the Russian state.

Auckland mayor Phil Goff said he would wear the ban as a ‘‘badge of honour’’ and described it as a symbol of ‘‘Russian impotence’’ in terms of what it could do to countries like New Zealand who had spoken out against the Ukraine invasion.

The news was equally surprising for Dunedin mayor Aaron Hawkins, who said it was the first time he had been banned from entering another country. ‘‘At least as far as I’m aware of. They may not all put out press releases.’’

He was unsure of the explanation behind the ban but said, ‘‘whether it’s Putin’s invasion of Ukraine or the treatment of rainbow communities back home, I don’t see a moral compass worth having any stock in’’.

The Ukrainian flag has been flown from the council building since the start of the invasion, and Hawkins had spoken at some of the regular vigils held in the Octagon. ‘‘I want to make it clear that my issue is with the Putin regime, and not the Russian people.’’

He said the country had always been on his bucket list of places to visit with the Trans Siberian Railway a lifelong dream.

‘‘It’s disappointing to see Russia deepening its isolation from the international community . . .’’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade