New Zealand adds 23 individuals, entities from Russia and Belarus to sanctions lists
WASHINGTON. July 21 (Interfax) - New Zealand on Friday added six individuals and 17 organizations from Russia and Belarus to its sanctions lists over the situation in Ukraine, New Zealand's Foreign Ministry said.
"[We] designate six individuals and 17 entities for providing material or strategic support for Russia's [actions in] Ukraine," the ministry said in a statement on its website.
Among the sanctioned individuals are Russian human rights commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova, the Moscow region's commissioner for children's rights Ksenia Mishonova and children's rights advisor to the head of the Donetsk People's Republic Eleonora Fedorenko.
The entities targeted by the sanctions are semiconductor equipment developers and producers Proton-Electrotex and Elektrovypryamitel.
The sanctions apply to 14 individuals and organizations of the Russian defense industry that develop, manufacture and supply weapons, electronic components and technologies, such as microelectronics and semiconductors, which are used by Russia, New Zealand's Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said.
New Zealand has also designated six financial institutions of Belarus, including banks such as Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus, Dabrabyt Bank and Belinvestbank. When commenting on these restrictive measures, Mahuta accused Minsk of supporting Russia's actions in Ukraine. She also condemned the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus, describing this move "as a direct threat to Ukraine, its neighboring allies, and a further attempt to destabilize the region."
Western media said that since March 2022, New Zealand has adopted more than 20 rounds of sanctions against Russia's defense and security sectors, Armed Forces members, the heads of commercial organizations, and public servants linked to the new territories that joined Russia, and has introduced trade restrictions against Russia. In all, New Zealand has designated more than 1,500 individuals and organizations.