The list of European officials that are blacklisted by Russia is now announced

A number of mass media published a list of European citizens who were denied entry to Russia.

Moscow has sent a list of persons who were denied entry to Russia to the European Union’s countries.

Russia recommended long ago that envoys of those countries, which imposed sanctions on the Russian Federation should apply to Russian consular offices before their trips for specifying whether they are barred from entering the country, TASS informs with the reference to a high-ranking official at the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"However, our partners preferred not to do so and asked to notify them through diplomatic channels," he said. "In line with this, the above-mentioned lists were sent to them."

Restrictions on access to Russia have been introduced exceptionally as a reciprocal step to the EU actions, he said.

"An answer to some European countries demanding to explain why these names have been put on the lists of persons banned from entering Russia is quite simple - this was done as a response to a sanctions campaign unleashed against Russia by some Germany-led countries of the European Union," he said commenting on the reports that certain European capitals had demanded explanations from Moscow over the blacklisted personalities.