New Zealand imposes sanctions on 8 entities, citizens of Russia - FM

WASHINGTON. May 11 (Interfax) - New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has announced new sanctions targeting eight Russian entities and citizens over the Ukraine situation.

"New Zealand continues to unequivocally condemn Russia's unjustified and illegal attack on Ukraine," Mahuta said in a statement published on the government website.

The sanctions reflect the complete rejection of Moscow's attempts "to mislead the international community," she said.

The new sanctions target eight individuals and entities involved in "Putin's campaign of disinformation," as well as "cyber attacks on Ukraine," Mahuta said.

"It builds on New Zealand's earlier sanctions targeting propagandists, and expands our sanctions list to include a notorious "troll farm", the spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Defense, and others," she said.

An update published on the New Zealand Foreign Ministry's website says that the sanctions have been imposed on Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov, head of the Russian General Staff's Main Intelligence Directorate Igor Kotyukov, VGTRK General Director Oleg Dobrodeyev, Krasnaya Zvezda Media Holding President Alexei Pimanov, and co-founder of the NewsFront news portal Mikhail Sinelin.

In addition, the restrictions apply to the 85th Main Special Service Center of the Russian General Staff's Main Directorate, the Main Special Technology Center of the Russian General Staff's Main Directorate, and Russia's Internet Research Agency.