The Canadian government has announced it is barring senior Ukrainian officials from entering the country, in response to violent clashes between protesters and police in Kyiv, Canadian portal CBC News reported on Tuesday.
“Effective immediately, we will restrict entry to Canada for key
Ukrainian government officials that have been responsible for the
oppression and silencing of opposition voices,” Canadian Citizenship and
Immigration Minister Chris Alexander said after a respective
parliamentary debate on Tuesday afternoon.
He said that the government was compelled to take action following
“utterly deplorable” and “recent actions by members of Ukraine’s ruling
elite in the face of popular and growing protests.”
“Canada continues to stand with the Ukrainian people as they
defiantly and courageously speak out in support of freedom and
democracy,” Alexander said.
Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird, in turn, warned Ukraine of further sanctions.
“I think this is an important step. We’ll obviously continue to
follow it and increase action if and when it is required,” he told
reporters in parliament.
Baird said the Canadian government is monitoring the situation in Ukraine on an hour-by-hour basis.
“This is not a final step for Canada, this is just another process in
our engagement and support of freedom and prosperity in Ukraine,” he
said.
Baird said he had been in touch with Catherine Ashton, the European
Union’s representative responsible for foreign affairs and security
policy, in the hour before Canada’s announcement. He said he would also
be in touch with U.S. officials.
Earlier on Monday, members of the Canadian parliament condemned the
Ukrainian government for its actions following an emergency debate in
the House of Commons.
