The Ever Growing List of Russian Sanctions

On By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Geography, Politics

Last year I wrote a blog about the Ukraine-Russia conflict, where I did my best to try and explain what was going on. After going back and looking at it again nearly one year later, there are things I realise I could have explained better, expanded more, or even things I just forgot to mention.

When I wrote it, I was concerned about the future of the region, because I thought it was a geo-political hot spot. That fear is a reality for millions of people across Ukraine, but also Russia, the neighbouring countries, and the entire world.

I try and fail, to make my blogs to be funny, entertaining, or interesting; so it could make someone smile, laugh, or at least to give them something to think about. This blog will be about the latter, because I find nothing funny or entertaining about the invasion of Ukraine. Nothing.

Before I level up and go into rant mode, please read the hundreds of articles and updates about the invasion, from various news sites around the world. Thousands of journalists and reporters are providing us with information and photos, that are changing minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day; detailing the horror and carnage of this utter madness.

So, am I angry about this insanity? Yes. Am I shocked and stunned by it? Yes. Am I afraid for Ukraine? Yes. Even though, I’m about 17,000 km away, I still give a damn. So, in my totally bias view, whom has the power to stop the war? Only the Russian government.

This brings us to the start of my rant for this Monday; I want to talk about sanctions and responses the world has given Russia, over the invasion of Ukraine. As the days have passed, I am amazed, truly amazed, about how united the world has been.

Except for Belarus, Cuba, Syria, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Russia of course.

For all of the things wrong in our world, they are some things that are right. These things have crossed genders, races, politics, religion, social economic backgrounds, languages, cultures, countries, and even sports.

Also can I just point something out? How badly do you need to have stuffed up, to have the Pope turn up on your door step, and ask you to explain your actions? Pretty badly, I think.

Anyway, I am in awe of the sanctions and responses, the international community have given the Russian government, over the Ukrainian invasion. Now I realise these sanctions and responses may change over time, and new ones will be added; however at the time of writing this blog, these are correct.

Another thing I want to add, is that I am very aware of other conflicts on the planet; such as Palestine, Yemen, Chad, Syria and many others. These conflicts are no less important, and still deserve the world’s attention and support.

With that in mind, may I present, a small list of Russian sanctions and responses by the international community, over the invasion of Ukraine. By the way, some of these sanctions and responses include Belarus, but not all of them.

Image by Miguel Á. Padriñán from Pixabay

Sports

Basketball

  • The EuroLeague have moved all games that were to be played in Russia, to other countries outside of Russia.

Football

  • UEFA has stripped St. Petersburg of hosting the 2022 UEFA final, scheduled for 28th May.
  • FIFA has suspended Russia; both men’s and women’s teams from international competitions. This means, the men’s team will not eligible to play at the World Cup in Qatar later this year.
  • Manchester United have terminated their sponsorship deal with Aeroflot, a Russian airline.
  • Schalke 04 have terminated their sponsorship deal with Gazprom, a Russian gas supplier.
  • After 19 years, the Russian oligarch, Roman Abramovich, is selling Chelsea FC. This is because of the mounting pressure of his association to President Putin.

Formula One

  • The Russian Grand Prix at Sochi, which was the 17th round of the Formula One championship was suspended.
  • Formula One now has terminated it’s contract with the Formula One promoter of the Russian Grand Prix.

Gymnastics

  • The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has banned Russian and Belarusian national flags at events, and their national anthems will not be played at any FIG event.
  • There will no FIG events to be held in Russia or Belarus, until further notice.

Ice Hockey

  • Two teams from the Russian owned, Kontinental Hockey League, have withdrawn from the competition.

Martial Arts

  • The International Judo Federation suspended President Putin as it’s honorary president.
  • The European Judo Union withdrew President Putin’s status as Honorary President.
  • World Taekwondo has stripped President Putin of his honorary 9th dan black belt.
  • World Taekwondo said that no Russian or Belarusian national flags or anthems would be displayed or played at their events.
  • No taekwondo events would be organised in Russia or Belarus.

Paralympics

  • The International Paralympic Committe has banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing.

Rugby Union

  • The full and immediate suspension of Russia and Belarus from all international rugby and cross-border club rugby activities, until further notice.
  • The full and immediate suspension of the Rugby Union of Russia from World Rugby membership, until further notice.

Skiing

  • The International Ski Federation (FIS) said there will no events in Russia, for the rest of the 2022 season.

Swimming

  • The World Junior Championship event in Russia, has now been allocated to another country.
  • The International Swimming Federation (FINA) withdrew the FINA Order previously given to President Putin.

Entertainment

Movies

  • Film studios like Disney, Sony, and Warner Bros, have stopped the release of their films in Russian cinemas. These include major films like Turning Red, Morbius, and The Batman, respectfully.

Music

  • The New York Metropolitan Opera is cutting ties with musicians connected with President Putin.
  • Russia has been banned from the 2022 Eurovision competition.
  • Green Day, Eric Clapton, Imagine Dragons, Iggy Pop, Louis Tomlinson, the Killers, and Franz Ferdinand; along with others, have cancelled upcoming shows in Russia.
  • Spotify has removed content from Kremlin backed outlets; RT and Sputnik, but also has closed their office in Russia.

Finance

  • The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, and the Bank of China, are limiting finances to purchase Russian raw materials, which limits Russian access to foreign money.
  • Russia has been cut off from SWIFT, the global messaging network for international payments.
  • Western countries have placed sanctions on the Russian Central Bank. This is to stop it from liquidating assets to counter balance the impact of sanctions.
  • The World Bank has stopped all activities in Russia and Belarus.
  • Singapore became the first Southeast Asian nation to impose sanctions on Russia. This was done by restricting banks and transactions linked to Russia.
  • Switzerland has frozen a number of Russian assets and joined EU sanctions; which has been described as unprecedented. (You know it’s bad, when the Swiss are pissed off!)
  • American Express, Visa, and Mastercard have blocked international credit card transactions made in Russia.
  • Samsung Pay, Google Pay, and Apple Pay have announced that their systems will no longer work in Russia.
  • Trafigura, a commodities trading company has frozen all of its Russian investments, which includes its share in Rosneft led project, Vostok Oil.
  • Personal sanctions on President Putin and Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov. This means the men’s collective assets in United States of America, European Union, United Kingdom and Canada, have been frozen.

Sanctions in other areas

  • Education
  • Research
  • Science
  • Energy
  • Electronic games
  • Food
  • Beverages
  • Furniture
  • Cars
  • Clothes
  • Technology
  • Services
  • Tourism
  • Aviation

There are many comprehensive lists of Russian sanctions out there, if you are curious. Over the coming weeks and months, this list will continue to grow, forcing the Russian government to the negotiating table. Sadly, only time will tell about how long this will be.

In the meantime, if you would like to donate money to support and protect Ukraine, there are many different agencies you can go through. The following list was complied by Vox.

Children

Medical Supplies

Journalists on the frontlines

Other ways to help

Seriously, any amount of money you can give, will help with the crisis.

With that, I will leave you, because my children are still talking in bed. Stay safe and I’ll see you next week. Glory to Ukraine!