Russia may retaliate against Australia's sanctions

Russia Friday said it might retaliate against Australia for its recent sanctions imposed on a list of Russian citizens.

The recriminatory sanctions would not affect Russia's participation in the two meetings of G20, a bloc of 20 developed and developing countries, that Australia hosts this year, Xinhua reported citing Russia's Izvestia newspaper.

Moscow has not received an official confirmation about the sanctions so far, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Australia Thursday announced asset freeze and travel ban on 50 Russian officials, businessmen and 11 Russian companies over the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

Canberra's sanctions followed the same lines as those imposed by the US and the European Union(EU) in recent months.

Valentina Matviyenko, Speaker of the Russian Parliament's Upper House, Thursday slammed Australia's move as "a theater of the absurd," which could "only provoke laughter from everyone now, or at least a smile."