Photo: RNZ \/ Angus Dreaver<\/p>\n
New Zealand has added another 19 individuals to its sanctions regime over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n
In a statement this afternoon, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta confirmed they included Federal Ministers, non-permanent members of Russia's Security Council, relatives of Putin, and Chechen Republic President Ramzan Kadyrov.<\/p>\n
Those listed were part of a network of influence around Putin, and had used their positions to threaten Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Mahuta said.<\/p>\n
She also criticised the referendums over whether to join Russia, held by Russia in occupied areas of Ukraine as a breach of the fundamental rules of international law. Some media reports suggested armed Russian soldiers were going door to door to collect votes.<\/p>\n
The Russia Sanctions Act allows the government to freeze assets, instate travel bans or prohibit financial dealings. To date, New Zealand has imposed sanctions on more than a thousand individuals and entities.<\/p>\n
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New Zealand imposes further sanctions against Putin-linked individuals - RNZ<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Photo: RNZ \/ Angus Dreaver New Zealand has added another 19 individuals to its sanctions regime over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Continue reading