Five Romanians, among the 89 Europeans banned by Russia

Five Romanians are among the 89 Europeans banned by Russia from entering the country. Several embassies of EU countries received such black lists of people who are no longer allowed to access Russia. Romania’s list includes Iulian Chifu - a former adviser of former president Traian Basescu, and current leader of the Conflict Prevention and Early Warning Center; Eugen Tormac- the Popular Movement Party leader; historian Adrian Cioroianu, a former Foreign Affairs Minister, and recently approved as Romania’s permanent representative at UNESCO; Gheorghe Haţegan – deputy GM with Romanian state-owned gas company Transgaz; and Liviu Chondon, the Romanian Navy commander. Romania’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, which received the list via the Romanian Embassy in Moscow, will ask Russia for explanations about the five people banned from the country. the Russian authorities are yet to explain the reasons for banning the 89 from entering its territory. Three Dutch MPs were refused Russian visas recently, as they were on the list of 89 EU countries responsible banned from Russia. This was, according to European sources, Russia’s way of fighting back the sanctions the EU imposed against the country. The list includes EMPs and political leaders from various EU countries, such as Guy Verhofstadt – the leader of the Liberal group in the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek – the former president of the European Parliament, British vice-prime minister Nick Clegg, and former MI6 director John Sawers, among others. Editor@romania-insider.com