Russian travel ban a point of pride – Carmichael

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today responded to news that he has been banned from travelling to Russia in the latest sanctions list, calling it a “point of pride”. Mr Carmichael said he was only surprised the ban had not come sooner, after working with people in the Northern Isles in March 2022 to secure a block on Russian vessels using UK ports.

Mr Carmichael said:

“News that I have been banned from visiting Russia came as a shock – largely because I had thought I was banned many years ago. When people in the Northern Isles were rallying together to block Russian tankers from our ports in 2022 I was pretty sure already I was not going to Moscow any time soon.

“I can only assume that this ban has happened now because of a joke I made at Nigel Farage’s expense in the House of Commons last month, mocking his craven stance on Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Putin’s friendship and welcome are hardly an endorsement worth having so I will take this travel ban as a point of pride.”