MOSCOW: Russia has barred entry to the country for nine individuals from Iceland, three from Greenland, three from the Faroe Islands and 16 from Norway in a retaliatory move, the country’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The countermeasures were taken in response to the decisions made by Iceland, Norway and the Danish autonomies of Greenland and the Faroe Islands to join the European Union’s sanctions against Russia, the Ministry added in late April.

The reciprocal measures were taken in relation to a number of parliamentarians, government members, business, media and academic representatives as well as public figures, who have actively “promoted anti-Russian rhetoric,” and have participated in the implementation of anti-Russian policies, it said.

The individuals will be added to Russia’s stop-list, and prohibited from entering the country, Xinhua news agency reported.