Two Dublin TDs have confirmed the Kremlin has banned them from Russia for supporting EU sanctions against Russia.
The travel ban list included 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 Micheal Martin strenuously denied when he was asked about it on Thursday evening.
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So far, two Dublin TDs - Fianna Fail's Paul McAuliffe and Labour leader Ivana Bacik - have confirmed they are on the list. Deputy McAuliffe confirmed his name was on the list and gave his support to Ukraine.
He wrote on Twitter: "The Department of Foreign Affairs has contacted me to confirm that my name has been included in a list of 52 Irish people sanctioned by the Russian government. This is not the Russian people's war. Sláva Ukrayíni".
The Labour leader called for the Russian Ambassador to be "expelled". She wrote: "Just contacted this evening by the Department of Foreign Affairs to be informed that I am one of the Oireachtas members on the Russian travel ban. Long past time that we expelled Russian Ambassador Filatov - solidarity with Ukraine.
The Taoiseach said earlier: “The message was conveyed to him [Russian ambassador Yury Filatov] 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.”
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