Russia imposes entry ban on US lawmakers, officials in retaliation for US sanction
20 March 2014, 19:49 -- The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry has published a list of US politicians against whom sanctions will be introduced, identical to those imposed by the United States against Russian officials.The list includes House Speaker John Boehner, US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez and other senior US administration officials who are legally prohibited to visit Russia.
'In response to 'punitive' sanctions imposed by the United States on March 17 on a number of Russian officials and MPs for their support of the Crimean referendum, the Russian Foreign Ministry announces the imposition of symmetrical sanctions on the same number of US politicians and lawmakers,' the ministry said on its website.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has unveiled its list of United States officials and members of Congress banned from entering the Russian Federation as part of its retaliation to the US sanctions imposed on Russia over Ukraine and Crimea.
Among those on the Russian sanctions list are: Caroline Atkinson, Deputy National Security Advisor; Daniel Pfeiffer, US Presidential Aide; Benjamin Rhodes, US Presidential Aide; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid; Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner; Robert Menendez, the Senate International Affairs Committee Chairman; John McCain, Senator; Daniel Coats, Senator.
I'm proud to be sanctioned by Putin - I'll never cease my efforts & dedication to freedom & independence of #Ukraine, which includes #Crimea
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain)
20 Март 2014
I guess this means my spring break in Siberia is off, Gazprom stock is lost & secret bank account in Moscow is frozen http://t.co/TgwZneD4HY
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain)
20 Март 2014
Russia to respond adequately to any hostile attack - Moscow on new US sanctions
Russia will respond adequately to every hostile attack, the Russian Foreign Ministry reacted to the new US sanctions list.
'We have repeatedly warned that the use of sanctions is a double-edged practice and will strike back at the USA. However, the American side, it seems, continues to blindly believe in the effectiveness of such methods taken from the arsenal of the past, and does not want to admit the obvious: residents of Crimea voted for unification with Russia in a democratic way and in full accordance with the international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and Russia respects and accepts this choice,' the statement says.
'One may like or dislike this decision, but we are talking about the reality that must be reckoned with. There should be no doubts: we will respond adequately to every hostile attack,' the statement of Russian Foreign Ministry defines.
Talking to Russia in language of sanctions counterproductive – Moscow
Russia will be responding symmetrically to every hostile step taken by the United States against it, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
'We have repeatedly warned that sanctions are a two-edged instrument that will boomerang on the United States. Talking to our country in such a language, as Washington could see on repeated occasions, is inappropriate and counterproductive,' the ministry said in a statement announcing symmetrical sanctions against a number of US officials and congressmen.
'There can be no doubt: we will respond symmetrically to every hostile move,' the statement says.
Obama announces sanctions on more Russian officials, banks
The United States will impose new sanctions against Russia in addition to the ones imposed earlier this week due to Moscow's political course towards Ukraine, US President Barack Obama said on Thursday. At the same time, he stressed that diplomatic talks between Russia and the United States should go on.
The American leader specified that the new measures are imposed against Russian high-ranking officials and other people who did not belong to authorities in Moscow, but who, as Washington believes, support actions of the Russian government against Ukraine. Obama added that one Russian bank was also included in the list. However, the president did not disclose the name of the bank.
Spokesperson of the US administration later specified during a telephone briefing for journalists that the new list included 20 Russian officials.
Obama said he has signed on Thursday a new executive order allowing the US administration to apply sanctions against key sectors of Russian economy. However, the president acknowledged that applying such measures might have negative impact on the whole global economy.
On Monday, Obama warned that the US would introduce additional sanctions against Russia, if it continues interfering with Ukraine's affairs.
March 17, USA published a black list of Russian and Ukrainian officials. The list includes presidential aide Vladislav Surkov, presidential adviser Sergei Glazyev, Head of State Duma Committee for CIS Affairs Leonid Slutsky, Head of Federation Council's Committee for constitutional legislation Andrei Klishas, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, Chair of the Duma committee for family, women and children affairs Yelena Mizulina, Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov, Crimean State Council Speaker Vladimir Konstantinov, leader of the Ukrainian Choice public movement Viktor Medvedchuk and Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych.
Their assets in the US will be frozen, and Americans will be banned from getting into business contacts with the officials on the list.
Apart from that, a new executive order of the US president has been adopted. This order forms the basis of sanctions against the aforementioned persons. In addition, the document allows introducing punitive measures against persons and organizations serving the interests of Russia's military industry, as well as providing material support to people included in the black list.
Voice of Russia, AFP, RIA, Interfax
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