Russia Adds 5 More to List of ‘Unfriendly’ Countries

Russia expanded, on Friday, the list of so-called “unfriendly” nations, adding five European states that Moscow claims have taken “hostile” actions.

The list of “unfriendly” countries, first established in May 2021 to include the United States and the Czech Republic, restricts the number of local staff that can be hired at designated nations’ diplomatic missions in Russia.

Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia, and Denmark are now on the list, according to the Russian government’s updated list published on Friday.

Meanwhile, Greece is limited to 34 local staff, Denmark to 20, and Slovakia to 16 at their respective embassies and consulates.

“Slovenia and Croatia will not be able to hire employees in their diplomatic missions and consular offices” altogether, the government decree states.

In previous remarks, Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed that Moscow will stop supplying gas to countries it considers “unfriendly” unless they pay in roubles.

The decree applies to the foreign countries “that commit unfriendly actions toward the Russian Federation, Russian legal entities and inpiduals”.

The decree highlights the mechanism foreign buyers will have to pay for the Russian gas in roubles. They will have to open Russian bank accounts both in foreign currency and in roubles.

“We offer contractors from such countries a clear and transparent scheme,” Putin said. “We will continue to consistently and systematically move in this direction as part of a long-term plan, to increase the share of foreign trade settlements in the national currency and the currencies of those countries that are reliable partners."