New Zealand sanctions 44 Russian and Belarusian enterprises

LONDON. June 7 (Interfax) - New Zealand has imposed sanctions on 44 companies from Russia and Belarus, including Russian gas giant Gazprom and Belarusian defense industry enterprises, the government of New Zealand said on Tuesday.

"In these latest sanctions, 44 entities have been designated, including six Belarusian defense entities. New Zealanders will be prohibited from dealing with these companies," New Zealand's Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said.

The latest sanctions target Gazprom and organizations that manufacture weapons and military hardware, according to the statement published on the government's website.

The sanctioned enterprises are of "strategic importance to Russia" because they provide raw materials, infrastructure, communications, transportation, weapons and funding, it said.

New Zealand had earlier imposed sanctions on Russian citizens, financial organizations and defense enterprises.