They are accused of “Russophobia”.
Moscow announced Thursday that it was sanctioning 227 American citizens, on the eve of the first day of the presidential election which should see Vladimir Putin re-elected to the Kremlin until 2030.
“Entry into Russia is closed to 227 Americans involved in the development, implementation and justification of the Russophobic policy of the current American administration,” justified the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Also concerned, according to this source, “those who are directly involved in anti-Russian actions”.
These personalities “from the world of business, media and academics”, in addition to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, are accused of “hostile attacks” and “dissemination of inventions and slander about Russia's foreign and domestic policy,” according to the statement.
NGOs accused of recruiting “agents of influence”
At the beginning of March, Russia declared three American NGOs “undesirable,” including the American Councils for International Education and the Institute of International Education.
According to the Kremlin, they are used by the United States Embassy in Moscow to “recruit
agents of influence
”.
More than 2,000 Americans are currently banned from entering Russia, according to an updated list.
This new wave of sanctions comes on the eve of a presidential vote organized from Friday to Sunday, expected to see the triumph of President Vladimir Putin, in power in Russia for almost a quarter of a century, and after two years of conflict in Ukraine.
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Presidential election: Putin calls for people to show “patriotism” and come vote
The Kremlin has already warned against any Western “interference”, ensuring that the authorities will organize the type of elections that the Russian people “want”.