Andorra moves to bar people sanctioned over the Ukraine war from entering the country

The minister stressed that the amendment is limited in scope and does not change the law’s overall structure, create a new sanctions regime or alter the measures already included. She said the aim is to complete the available tools so Andorra can fully implement the international sanctions regimes it chooses to adopt.

Sanctions linked to the war in Ukraine

Molné recalled that Law 5/2022 was passed following Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine. She said the amendment responds to changes in the European Union’s sanctions packages concerning the war and actions by Belarus that contribute to or facilitate the aggression.

Among the sanctioned Russian and Belarusian nationals, the minister mentioned people accused of the illegal deportation, forced transfer or detention of Ukrainian children outside their country.

Molné said an explicit legal basis would allow Andorra to apply travel bans and strengthen its response to serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

In an interview with La Veu Lliure published on 24 June, Russian ambassador Yuri Klimenko blamed the deterioration in relations with Andorra on the Principality’s decision to join EU sanctions against Russia in March 2022. He called the decision a “unilateral hostile act” and said it had prompted Moscow’s response.

According to the ambassador, intergovernmental and interparliamentary contacts have been suspended since then, while dialogue with Andorran authorities has been reduced to occasional technical communications. He also described economic and cultural cooperation as virtually non-existent and said Russian tourism to the Principality had almost disappeared.