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Germany demands names on Russian travel blacklist

Lawmaker Karl-Georg Wellmann was refused entry at Moscow's airport on May 24.

By Ed Adamczyk
German Parliament member Karl-Georg Wellmann was denied entry to Russia earlier this week. Germany demanded a list Thursday of those on Russia's travel blacklist. Photo courtesy of Bundestag Project.
German Parliament member Karl-Georg Wellmann was denied entry to Russia earlier this week. Germany demanded a list Thursday of those on Russia's travel blacklist. Photo courtesy of Bundestag Project.

BERLIN, May 28 (UPI) -- After a Parliament member was denied entry to Russia earlier this week, Germany demanded a list Thursday of those on Russia's travel blacklist.

Although Russia has not made public a travel sanctions list, presumably used as reciprocal influence against economic sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union, German lawmaker Karl-Georg Wellmann was refused entry at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport on May 24. He had planned to meet with members of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

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The German Foreign Office called the incident "incomprehensible and unacceptable."

Wellmann said he did not expect to be detained and quickly removed from Russia, adding, "I was snarled at in Russian, which I do not speak, as if I were a criminal. Ultimately my passport was confiscated and I only received it again once I was on the plane that took me back to Germany. Meanwhile, an officer accompanied me all the way into the airplane."

He said he believes his name is on a list of undesirables in Russia because he has publicly criticized Russia as the provider of weapons, logistics and other assistance to pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine. Russia has regularly denied any involvement in Ukraine.

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