Russia announced on Friday that it has barred 500 Americans, including former President Barack Obama, from entering the country in reaction to US sanctions.
“In response to the anti-Russian sanctions regularly imposed by the Biden administration… entry into the Russian Federation is closed for 500 Americans,” the foreign ministry said, adding that Obama was among those on the list.
On Friday, the United States added hundreds more companies and individuals to its sanctions blacklist as it broadened efforts to choke off Russia’s economy over the Ukraine offensive.
“Washington should have learned a long time ago that not a single hostile step against Russia will be left unanswered,” the foreign ministry said.
Russia said it has blacklisted senators, congressmen, and think tank members “involved in the spread of Russophobic attitudes and fakes,” as well as the leaders of corporations that “supply weapons to Ukraine.”
In the same announcement, Russia denied a consular access to jailed US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in March on suspicion of spying.
The refusal was precipitated by Washington’s reluctance to give visas to journalists accompanying Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to the United Nations in April.
