MOSCOW, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Russia issued a permanent entry ban on 99 Canadian citizens as a countermeasure, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
"Russia imposes a permanent entry ban on 99 Canadian citizens, who are involved in the elaboration and implementation of Ottawa's anti-Russia policies, as a countermeasure," the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry added that the ban was not targeted at ordinary Canadian people, because it can distinguish the current political elite of Canada with the Canadian people. ■