MOSCOW — In response to a brand new spherical of U.S. sanctions, Russia introduced Friday that it was banning 500 Americans from coming into the nation, together with former President Barack Obama and comic Stephen Colbert.

The record launched by the Foreign Ministry didn't specify complaints towards every particular person. But the ministry stated the offenses included spreading Russophobia, supplying Ukraine with arms, and officers “who are directly involved in the persecution of dissidents in the wake of the so-called ‘storm of the Capitol.’”

The ban consists of 45 members of the U.S. House, Sens. J.D. Vance, Katie Britt and Eric Schmitt, and former ambassadors to Russia John Tefft and Jon Huntsman.

The ministry stated it had additionally denied a U.S. request for consular entry to Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter who was arrested in late March and charged with espionage. The ministry stated that was in response to the United States denying visas to Russian journalists who wished to cowl Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s go to to the United Nations final month.

The newest sanctions geared toward Russia embody tighter restrictions on already-sanctioned folks and corporations concerned within the struggle effort. The monetary penalties have been primarily centered on sanctions evaders related to know-how procurement for the Kremlin.

Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.

Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com