Canada’s government has placed additional sanctions on Russian oligarchs in response to the continued aggression on Ukraine, alongside bans on imported goods, including fish and seafood, and on the export of luxury goods to Russia.
The new sanctions – imposed under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations – were announced by Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly “in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing egregious and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine”.
“The Putin regime must, and will, answer for their unjustifiable acts. Canada, together with our allies, will be relentless in our efforts to maintain pressure on the Russian regime, until it is no longer able to wage war. We are unwavering in our support for Ukraine and its people,” Joly said.
These new measures impose restrictions on 14 individuals including Russian oligarchs, their family members, and close associates of the Putin regime, the Government of Canada advised in a press release.
“These individuals have directly enabled Vladimir Putin’s senseless war in Ukraine and bear responsibility for the pain and suffering of the people of Ukraine,” the government stated.
It advised that the Russian import ban, which also includes alcoholic beverages and non-industrial diamonds, represented CAD 75.7 million worth of goods in 2021.
“These bans will ensure that Canada is aligned with similar measures imposed by like-minded partners, including the United States and the European Union, and will help to mitigate the potential for Russian oligarchs to circumvent restrictions in other luxury goods markets. The Government of Canada is also implementing a ban on the export of goods that could be used in the production and manufacture of weapons by Russia.
“Together, these measures will help maintain further pressure on the Russian regime to cease its unprovoked and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine. Canada will not relent in holding those responsible for the war in Ukraine to account, and it will continue to work with its partners in the international community to support Ukraine and its people as they fight to defend their sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.”
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 1,000 individuals and entities from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
