In its response to CdM’s questions, the Russian Embassy in Montenegro admitted that there was a list of Montenegrin officials who were denied entry to Russia. However, it did not want to disclose who they were.
This is the first official confirmation that there is a list of people from our country that had been declared persona non grata in Russia.
The embassy said that this was a reciprocal response to Montenegro’s initiative to impose sanctions in bilateral relations.
On the occasion of the DPS MP Miodrag Vukovic’s deportation, the Embassy of the Russian Federation also stated that Vukovic had not been detained, but that he had not been allowed to enter the territory of the Russian Federation. The embassy conformed that Vukovic was on the list of people declared persona non grata.
“As for the names of other persons who have been declared as non grata in Russia, the embassy does not comment on that issue,” said the embassy.
Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also commented on Vukovic’s deportation. She said that it was no secret that Montenegro joined the EU sanctions, including personnel, against Russia.
“Russia has always stated that it will exercise the right to take reciprocal measures, as it is recognised in European law,” Zakharova said in the statement published at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website.
She added that Montenegro would be given a proper clarification.
However, she did not respond to the Beta news agency’s question whether prohibiting Vukovic from entering Russia meant that there was a list of Montenegrin citizens declared persona non grata in Russia.
