Russia bans 92 US citizens, including journalists

Russia has banned 92 US citizens, including journalists from the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and the New York Times. Those individuals have been permanently banned from entering Russia in response to US President Joe Biden's administration's 'Russophobic policy'.

Russia says the Joe Biden administration is pursuing Russophobic policies with the stated goal of inflicting a "strategic defeat" on Moscow. As part of this, the US has imposed sanctions against Russian politicians, the business community, scientists and cultural figures, journalists and media organizations. In response, 92 US citizens were permanently barred from entering the Russian Federation.

The Russian Foreign Ministry says the sanctions are aimed at those involved in supplying weapons to the Ukrainian armed forces, 'sponsoring' the Kyiv regime and creating and spreading false stories about Russia and the Russian armed forces. This includes top editorial staff and journalists in particular. For example, some employees of the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and New York Times will not be allowed to enter.

The ministry also says the sanctions list will continue to expand to include those directly involved in anti-Russian activities, in response to the US administration's insane sanctions. We remind US authorities that punishment for hostile acts is inevitable. They directly encourage Zelensky and his associates to carry out aggression and terrorist attacks. They represent an attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the Russian Federation.

Among those banned from entering Russia are US Space Command Commander Stephen Whiting, Space Systems Command Commander Philip Garrant and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John Plumb.

Journalists on the blacklist include David Stern, Adam Taylor and Shane Harris of the Washington Post; Lara Jacques and Andrew Kramer of the New York Times; Wall Street Journal editor-in-chief Emma Tucker and former Moscow bureau chief Nathan Hodge.