Russia banned "500 Americans" from entering the country, such as former United States (US) President Barack Obama, late-night TV host Stephen Colbert, and many more, including some journalists in the US.
The Russian Foreign Ministry released a list that bans hundreds of Americans in response to recent sanctions by the Joe Biden administration.
Russia Bans '500 Americans,' Including Obama
NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 23: Former U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during an early vote rally for New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on October 23, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. People are heading to the polls in New Jersey for early voting as Murphy faces Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli.
According to CNN, Russia announced its ban on "500 Americans" following the alleged move of the US to deny entry of Russian journalists, supposedly covering the United States visit of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The Russian FM threatened the US with possible retaliation after the alleged visa denial. He warned that Moscow plans to respond to the sanction in such a way "that the Americans will remember for a long time not to do this."
According to ABC News, Moscow explained the latest banning of Americans in its recent statement. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia says, "It is high time for Washington to learn that not a single hostile attack against Russia will go without a strong reaction."
The Foreign Ministry accused the people included in the long list of banned people of spreading Russophobia and supplying weapons to Ukraine. Moscow further notes that some of the names on the list are officials "directly involved in the persecution of dissidents in the wake of the so-called 'storm of the Capitol."
It is worth noting that former POTUS Donald Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol to prevent the certification of Biden as the US President. Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly reacted to the arrest of protesters, reiterating that the rioters were voicing their "political demands."
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The Russian ban includes various late-night TV hosts, such as Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and Colbert. What appears to be a mere mishap, Moscow includes British journalist Paton Walsh, a citizen of the United Kingdom, in the "500 Americans" list.
The ban also covers the 45 members of the US House of Representatives. The Hill reports that the names of California Attorney General Rob Bonta, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and US Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew Graves also appeared on the ban list. It also includes other US journalists, such as CNN anchor Erin Burnett and MSNBC anchor Brian Williams.
All these names, among hundreds of Americans, including former President Obama, are now banned from entering Russian territory amid the sanctions against the country. Ukraine's Western allies, including the US, have collectively sanctioned Russia after invading its neighboring country in 2022.
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