Russian ambassador Yury Filatov has been formally rebuked by the Irish Government after being called into the Department of Foreign Affairs for a stiff dressing down.
He was blasted by officials and told a travel ban on leading politicians and other figures was “unwarranted and unjustified.”
Mr Filatov was called in after the harsh travel ban was issued by Moscow against 52 Irish politicians and businessmen, including the Taoiseach and Tánaiste.
The Russian Government said the sanction was being imposed because our government is part of EU-wide “anti-Russian propaganda.”
But this is something Taoiseach Micheál Martin strenuously denied when he was asked about it on Thursday evening.
He said: “The message was conveyed to him that this behaviour by Russia, absolutely unacceptable, it is not the norm in a diplomatic situation to be really essentially engaging in propaganda, a form of hybrid warfare.
“This is part of Russia's misinformation campaign, trying to undermine the bona fides of Ireland in respect of our commitment to peace.
“And we will not be deflected from our stance of solidarity with Ukrainian people, our opposition to an immoral and illegal war against Ukrainian people, which really seeks to undermine the international rules based order.
“Ireland is fundamentally aligned to the international rules based order in terms of the United Nations and in terms of the European Union.
“So it's unacceptable behaviour.
“That message has been conveyed today.
“The government will again meet to give further consideration to it and reflect on it.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Smon Coveney is away on government business in Washington, so the Deputy Secretary General at the department, John Conlon, stood in for the minister at the meeting with the Russians.
Following the meeting, a DFA spokeswoman said: “The Russian Ambassador was called in by senior officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs this afternoon.
“The Government’s firm objection to the unwarranted and unjustified travel ban imposed on Irish citizens was conveyed.
“Ireland’s position in respect of Russia’s illegal aggression against Ukraine was reiterated.
“Ireland’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its right to defend itself against this attack under Article 51 of the UN Charter, was also reiterated.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs was given a copy of the list of 52 citizens subject to the travel ban.
“The Department will be informing the individuals concerned but will not be publishing the list.
“The Minister is consulting with his senior officials this evening and will be bringing further details to the party leaders in government in due course.”
The full list of the 52 has been handed over to the Foreign Affairs Department by the Russian Embassy.
The department did not release the list of names as they were contacting the individuals on the list personally first.
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