Former President Barack Obama on Newark’s violence reduction at My Brother’s Keeper Alliance event in Chicago on October 2021. Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has barred 500 Americans from entering the country, including former US President Barack Obama, former White House officials, senators, congressmen, and others.
According to the Russian Federation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this is a response to new sanctions imposed by the United States on May 19 against a number of Russian persons and entities.
The list includes Obama, former US Ambassador Jon Huntsman, several US senators and the next expected chairman of the joint chiefs Charles Q. Brown Jr.
The rambling list of names also includes American late night TV hosts Jimmy Kimmel, Colbert, and Seth Meyers.
According to reports, “those in power and law enforcement structures who are directly involved in the persecution of dissidents following the so-called “storming of the Capitol” were also barred from participating.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation stated that it once again refuses the representatives of the US Embassy a consular visit to the pre-trial detention center of The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Hershkovich, who was arrested on charges of espionage.
The statement also said: “The attached ‘list-500’ also includes those in government and law enforcement agencies who are directly involved in the persecution of dissidents in the wake of the so-called Storming the Capitol.” On January 6, 2021, scores of supporters of former US President Donald Trump sought to stop Biden’s certification as president and attacked the US Capitol.
Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to question the arrest of the rioters a few months later, saying the people had come to Congress “with political demands,” Reuters reported.
The Russian Federation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that it will once again refuse representatives from the US Embassy a consular visit to the pre-trial detention center of The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Hershkovich, who was jailed on espionage accusations.
“The attached ‘list-500’ also includes those in government and law enforcement agencies who are directly involved in the persecution of dissidents in the aftermath of the so-called Storming the Capitol,” the statement added.
On January 6, 2021, supporters of former US President Donald Trump attempted to prevent Biden’s confirmation as president by attacking the US Capitol. A few months later, Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to doubt the detention of the rioters, claiming that the people had come to protest.
Writing by Adeniyi Bakare; Editing by Julian Osamoto