New Zealand imposes sanctions against the FSB and Russian companies

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs imposed sanctions against nine Russians and 18 Russian companies. This is stated in the message of the department.

The new sanctions apply to the FSB and its leadership, "as well as other Russian individuals and legal entities that develop and purchase weapons, technologies and communications systems, as well as provide transport and insurance services." The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet published an updated sanctions list.

“Over the past year, New Zealand has provided more than $78 million in financial and military support to Ukraine and <...> imposed sanctions against more than 1,500 Russian and Belarusian individuals and legal entities, as well as companies. Today's package [of sanctions] shows that our resolve has not weakened," Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said.

On February 24, 2023, on the anniversary of Russia's military operation in Ukraine, New Zealand imposed sanctions against 87 individuals, including politicians and the military. New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaya Mahuta said that this was "one of the biggest rounds" of anti-Russian restrictions by Wellington. In particular, Deputy Prime Ministers Alexei Overchuk, Victoria Abramchenko, Tatyana Golikova and Denis Manturov, ministers and 39 governors were subject to restrictions.

Since the end of February 2022, New Zealand has repeatedly tightened sanctions against RUSSIA. The country has restricted exports to Russia and reduced Russian imports . The Russian Foreign Ministry accused New Zealand of "obediently following the course of the collective West." In April last year, the department introduced retaliatory restrictive measures against the leadership of this country.