Russia hasexpanded its short list of so-called unfriendly nations, adding five European states that Moscow says have taken hostile actions.The list of unfriendly countries, first established in May 2021 to include the United States and the Czech Republic, restricts the number of local staff that can be hired at designated nations diplomatic missions in Russia.Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia and Denmark are now on the list, according to the Russian governments updated list published Friday.All five countries have expressed staunch support for Ukraine following Russia's Feb.
24 invasion of its western neighbor.Greece is now limited to 34 local staff, Denmark to 20 and Slovakia to 16 at their respective embassies and consulates.Slovenia and Croatia will not be able to hire employees in their diplomatic missions and consular offices altogether, the government decree states.This is the first expansion to Russias list of unfriendly countries in more than a year.The Russian government warned that it may expand its list further taking into account the ongoing hostile actions of foreign states against Russian missions abroad.A separate list of unfriendly countries imposes economic limits on 48 mostly Western countries in response to sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine this year.Moscow ordered countries on that list to make ruble payments on debt and obtain government approval for corporate deals in addition to placing visa restrictions on their citizens.Russian President Vladimir Putin in May banned economic relations with sanctioned individuals from "unfriendly countries in response to Western asset seizures abroad.