Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday to introduce visa restrictions for citizens of countries that Moscow deems "unfriendly" in response to sanctions over Ukraine.
The decree, which comes into force on Monday, suspends Russia's simplified visa issuance regime with some European Union countries as well as Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
Denial of entry to Russia to individual foreign persons who have committed "acts against the Russian Federation, its citizens," was also introduced into law by the decree.
The document states that the restrictions were being introduced "based on the need to take urgent measures in response to the unfriendly actions of the European Union, a number of foreign states."
"A draft presidential decree is currently being developed on retaliatory visa measures in connection with the unfriendly actions of a number of foreign states," foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said of the drafting of the decree on March 28.
An official list of foreign states that Russia considers as having committed "unfriendly actions" against "Russia, Russian companies and citizens" was published on the Russian government's website on March 7.
The countries, international organizations and territories considered "unfriendly" include: "Australia, Albania, Andorra, United Kingdom, including Jersey, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Canada, Liechtenstein, Micronesia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Korea, San Marino, North Macedonia, Singapore, USA, Taiwan, Ukraine, Montenegro, Switzerland, Japan."
Russia lists Taiwan as being part of China.