Statement by Senator Marise Payne, the Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women
30 March 2021
Australia has imposed targeted financial sanctions and travel bans against a Russian individual and four Russian companies connected to the construction and operation of the Kerch Strait Railway Bridge linking Russia to the illegally annexed territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine.
The Kerch bridge is an attempt to consolidate Russia’s control of the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula. By virtue of their activities, this individual and the entities are complicit in seeking to legitimise Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol and support separatist activities in eastern Ukraine.
This year marks the seventh anniversary of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol. Australia continues to urge Russia to return Crimea and Sevastopol to full Ukrainian control. Australia rejects Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol and will continue to call out its ongoing intervention, interference and provocative actions in eastern Ukraine.
Australia continues to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in coordination with our international partners. Today’s announcement is made in coordination with Canada and aligns with action taken by the United Kingdom and European Union.
We are steadfast in our commitment to maintaining pressure, including by way of sanctions, on individuals and entities who seek to facilitate Russia’s unlawful attempts to integrate Ukraine’s territory into Russia.
Australia has maintained autonomous sanctions against Russia since it illegally annexed Crimea and Sevastopol in 2014. Today’s listings bring the total to 168 individuals and 52 entities.
The persons and entities who are the subject of these new sanctions measures are set out in the Autonomous Sanctions (Designated Persons and Entities and Declared Persons – Ukraine) Continuing Effect Declaration 2020 (No 2), registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.