New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta on Monday announced a new package of sanctions against 22 Russian «elite» individuals for their support of «the illegal invasion» of Ukraine, including Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two daughters, Maria and Katerina.
Mahuta stressed that this is the third time that New Zealand has acted against «the powerful and wealthy in Russia» in the framework of this new war that has been dragging on for nine months now, following sanctions in May and September.
The New Zealand minister pointed out that these 22 people, who among other things are banned from entering the country, have been rewarded in Russia with «wealth and influence» for their prominent role in supporting the «illegal and unjustified invasion of Ukraine».
Among these people are Putin’s two daughters, Maria Vladimirovna Vorontsova and Katerina Vladimirovna Tikhonova; the wife and children of Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov; Central Bank Governor Elvira Sakhipzadovna Nabiullina; as well as the wife and son of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.
«As members of the political and economic elite, these individuals enable Russia’s aggression in Ukraine,» Mahuta has denounced. Since the start of the war, New Zealand has imposed sanctions on more than 1,200 individuals and entities.
In addition, four other companies «of economic or strategic relevance to Russia» have also been sanctioned. In this case, they are related to the energy, transport and new technologies sectors.
