FURY AT YURY

Russian ambassador blasted over ban on 52 Irish people

- FERGHAL BLANEY

RUSSIAN ambassador Yury Filatov was formally rebuked by the Irish Government yesterday after being called in for a stiff dressing down.

He was blasted by officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs after the Kremlin issued a travel ban on 52 top politicians and businessmen including the Taoiseach and Tanaiste.

Moscow said the sanction was being imposed because Ireland is part of EU-wide "anti-Russian propaganda".

But this is something Taoiseach Micheal Martin strenuously denied.

He said: "The message was conveyed to [Mr Filatov] that this behaviour by Russia, absolutely unacceptable, it is not the norm in a diplomatic situation to be really essentially engaging in propaganda, a form of hybrid warfare. This is part of Russia's misinformation campaign, trying to undermine the bona fides of Ireland in respect of our commitment to peace.