Russia Set To Expel 10 US Diplomats & Enforce New Sanctions
By Donald Standeford, Correspondent - Follow -
Date Published: 2021-04-16 06:00PM PST
Last Modified: 2021-05-03 11:22PM PST
After Biden announced new sanctions on Russian diplomats and signed an executive order to expel 10 Russian diplomats, Russia has responded in kind as they set out to expel 10 US diplomats and enforce a number of new sanctions on the United States in retaliation.
Russia also unveiled a list of 8 ex or current officials who will be barred from entering the country for their "involvement in the implementation of the anti-Russian course." - including: James Woolsey, John Bolton, Merrick Garland, Michael Carvajal, Alejandro Mayorkas, Susan Rice, Christopher Wray and Avril Haines.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the move by the US to expel the 10 Russian diplomats and enforce new sanctions were "absolutely unfriendly and unprovoked" and also stated that they will be shutting down other organizations in Russia that are not government related but who are meddling in Russian politics.
The Russian Foreign Minister also stated that Russia could take 'painful measures' against US business interests in the country but that it would not take immediate action, but instead save such actions for future use.
Sergey also stated that if the United States continued to put pressure on Russia, it may reduce the number of US consular and embassy staff in Russia from 450 to 300 diplomats.
