US Vice President Kamala Harris is one of the celebrities that Russia has targeted with sanctions. Photo: Bloomberg
Russia banned on Thursday from entering its territory US Vice President Kamala Harris and Facebook Chairman Mark Zuckerberg, along with dozens of prominent Americans and Canadians, in retaliation for penalties imposed on Moscow for the military offensive in Ukraine.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said the travel restrictions on 29 Americans and 61 Canadians -which also include defense officials, business leaders and journalists from both countries – remain in effect indefinitely.
The US list includes ABC News television host George Stephanopoulos, columnist for Washington Post David Ignatius, and the editor of Russia -focused news site Meduza, Kevin Rothrock.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was also sanctioned by Moscow. Photo: AFP
Also on the list are Pentagon spokeswoman John Kirby, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks and personalities from the financial world.
The Canadian list includes Cameron Ahmad, who works as communications director for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Special Operations Forces Commander Steve Boivin.
The list of people includes those “directly involved in the formation, establishment and implementation of the Russophobic course of the ruling regime in Canada,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Previously, Russia and authorized several hundred U.S. and Canadian officialsincluding the president of the United States, Joe Biden, and the prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, in response to their countries ’punitive measures against Moscow.
Russia already represented 398 congressmen of the U.S. House of Representatives last week, which adopted the same measure against 328 deputies of the Duma or lower house of the Russian Parliament.
exchange of penalties
On Wednesday the US announced sanctions against a network of 40 individuals and companiess, led by Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev, allegedly helping Russia evade Western sanctions on Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine.
Russian commercial bank Transcapitalbank and Russian cryptocurrency company Bitriver, as well as 10 of their subsidiaries, were also sanctioned, the Treasury Department said in a statement.
Another of the authorized companies is Tsargrad, a Russian propaganda tool allegedly used by Maloféyev to act as a mediator between the Kremlin and pro-Russian politicians in Europe.
In turn, the U.S. State Department tighten visas to 635 Russian citizens.
US President Joe Biden announced that Thursday prohibit Russian ships from landing in ports while unveiling the new $ 800 million military aid package to Ukraine.
Source: AFP and EFE
Source: Clarin