Sanctions against Russia
71 Commons Library Research Briefing, 22 March 2023
Other Western allies and partners
Australia
Australian sanctions were first imposed against Russia in 2014 and extended
again in 2015.
In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in February 2022 the Australian
government announced a raft of additional measures, in support of Western
sanctions:
• The prohibitions already in place on trade with Crimea and Sevastopol
will be extended to the LPR and DPR.
• Restrictions have been placed on several Russian financial institutions,
including Rossiya Bank, Promsvyazbank, IS Bank, Genbank and the Black
Sea Bank for Development and Reconstruction and VEB.
• Financial sanctions have been placed on the Russian Central Bank.
• Sanctions and travel bans have been placed on eight members of
Russia's National Security Council, including President Putin, Sergei
Lavrov, Sergei Shoigu, and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
• Financial restrictions have been placed on several defence related
companies and those involved in the sale or transport of crude oil or
petroleum products.
• The criteria for designating individuals and entities has been expanded
to include "those of strategic and economic significance to Russia".
309
Announcing the first round of additional sanctions on 23 February 2022, the
then Foreign Minister, Marise Payne, said "In taking these actions, we are in
alignment with our key partners, the United States and the United Kingdom"
and that this was "the beginning of our sanctions process".
310
On the
sanctioning of President Putin, she said "It is exceedingly rare to designate a
head of state, and reflects the depth of our concerns".
311
On 8 March the Australian Government announced that further sanctions
designations would be made, targeting "propagandists and purveyors of
disinformation".
312
This round of sanctions targeted the Russian armed forces,
including six senior Russian military commanders responsible for the conduct
of the campaign in Ukraine, Dmitry Peskov, President Putin's Press Secretary
and Maria Zakharova, Spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry.
313
On 11 March Australia also announced that it would be introducing a ban on
the import of Russian oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, coal and
other energy products. That ban came into force on 25 April 2022.
314
An export
309
Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Media release, 23 February 2022
310
Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Media release, 23 February 2022
311
Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Media release, 28 February 2022
312
Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Media release, 8 March 2022
313
Australian Government, Sanctions: Consolidated List (accessed 8 March 2022)
314
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Press release, 11 March 2022
At the time of
writing, Australia
has imposed
sanctions on 843
individuals and 62
entities.
Australian Government,
Invasion of Ukraine by
Russia
