On Wednesday, Russia’s foreign ministry announced it is barring entry to 92 U.S. citizens, including journalists, lawyers, and executives from key military-industrial companies, citing Washington’s “Russophobic” policies.
This move reflects the deepening rift between Moscow and Washington, exacerbated by the ongoing war in Ukraine and its impact on diplomatic relations.
The foreign ministry released a list on Telegram, which includes 14 employees from the Wall Street Journal, five senior journalists from the New York Times, and four from the Washington Post.
The decision comes amidst the worst strain in U.S.-Russia relations since the Cold War, as Russia accuses the West of exacerbating the conflict by contemplating support for Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory.
The Wall Street Journal criticized the bans as “laughable” and part of an ongoing attack on the free press. The publication’s journalist, Evan Gershkovich, was recently released after 16 months of detention in Russia, further highlighting the contentious nature of the current relationship between the two nations.
Russia’s foreign ministry claimed the bans are aimed at editorial staff and reporters from “leading liberal-globalist publications” involved in spreading misinformation about the Russian military.
The ministry attributed the action to the Biden administration’s anti-Russian stance, which includes extensive sanctions against Russian officials, business figures, scientists, and journalists.
The ministry also warned of repercussions for what it sees as hostile actions by the U.S., including support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and interference in Russian internal affairs. The New York Times and Washington Post have yet to comment on the bans.
The list also targets state prosecutors, U.S. defense industry employees, and university professors, reflecting a broadening of Russia’s sanctions against American entities amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
