New Zealand imposes sanctions on 18 banks and financial institutions from Russia

LONDON. April 19 (Interfax) - New Zealand's foreign ministry on Tuesday announced the imposition of sanctions against a number of Russian banks and financial institutions owing to the situation regarding Ukraine.

"New Zealand is imposing sanctions on 18 financial institutions, including the Central Bank of Russia (CBR), the sovereign wealth fund, as well as the country's largest financial institutions, which account for approximately 80% of Russia's total banking assets," according to the statement released on behalf of New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta on the website of the country's government.

The document notes that in addition to the CBR, the following financial institutions have been sanctioned: Sberbank , VTB , Gazprombank , VEB, Rosselkhozbank, Alfa Bank, Rossiya Bank, Otkritie Bank , MKB , Sovcombank, SMP Bank, Chernomorsky Bank for Development and Reconstruction, Genbank, Industrial Savings Bank, Novikombank, Russian National Commercial Bank, and the Russian Direct Investment Fund.