Russia expands list of “unfriendly” countries

Russia Expansion A short list of so-called “unfriendly” countries, adding five European countries stating that Moscow has taken “hostile” actions.

First list of “unfriendly” countries Established In May 2021, the number of local staff available to diplomatic missions in designated Russian countries was limited to include the United States and the Czech Republic.

Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia and Denmark are on the list, according to an updated list of the Russian government released on Friday.

After Russia invaded its western neighbors on February 24, all five countries expressed their firm support for Ukraine.

Currently, Greece is limited to 34 local staff at each embassy and consulate, Denmark to 20 and Slovakia to 16.

“Slovenia and Croatia cannot hire employees for diplomatic missions and consulates,” said a government decree.

This is Russia’s first expansion over a year into the list of “unfriendly” countries.

The Russian government has warned that it may further expand its list “taking into account the ongoing hostile actions of foreign countries against Russia’s mission abroad.”

Another list of “unfriendly” countries imposes economic sanctions, primarily on the western 48 countries, in response to the sanctions imposed on Russia over this year’s invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow has ordered the countries on its list not only to impose visa restrictions on citizens, but also to pay rubles of debt and obtain government approval for business transactions.

In May, Russian President Vladimir Putin banned economic relations with sanctioned persons from “unfriendly countries” in response to the seizure of Western assets abroad.