Moscow, Nov 4 (IANS): Moscow has decided to ban the entry of dozens of Canadian citizens to Russia in retaliation to Canada's new sanctions, the Foreign Ministry said.

"We are forced to act in a mirror-like manner. Based on the principle of reciprocity, it was decided to ban entry to the Russian Federation of a number of Canadian individuals. The list is long, there are dozens of names in it," Xinhua news agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova as saying in a commentary posted on the ministry's website.

Russophobic individuals, who intend to destroy bilateral relations between the two countries, are the targets, Zakharova said.

She asked the Canadian side to quit playing "sanctions games" and take the path of constructive interaction.

"We expect that the political circles of Canada will have an epiphany and abandon the disastrous course leading to further aggravation of bilateral relations."

Earlier on Friday, Canada imposed sanctions against 30 Russian officials suspected of being linked to the prison death of Russian anti-corruption lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in 2009, who was jailed after alleging a massive tax fraud.