WASHINGTON: Russia has published a list of 963 Americans who have been “permanently banned” from entering the country in response to US sanctions related to the invasion of Ukraine.
Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman, 84, is among the names on the list, apparently as a result of appearing in a video clip in 2017 that accused the Russian government of meddling with American democracy.
Freeman narrated the promotional video for an organisation named ‘The Committee to Investigate Russia’. The video was directed by filmmaker Rob Reiner, best known for movies including ‘The Princess Bride’ and ‘When Harry Met Sally’, and he has also been added to the Kremlin’s list.
Russia’s foreign ministry said the people on the list “incite Russophobia”. It said: “We emphasise that the hostile actions taken by Washington, which boomerang against the United States itself, will continue to receive a proper rebuff.
“Russian counter-sanctions are forced and aimed at forcing the ruling American regime… to change its behaviour, recognising new geopolitical realities,” it added.
Back in March, President Joe Biden was banned from entering Russia in response to the sanctions imposed against the country after the invasion of Ukraine.
The White House mocked the Russian sanctions by quipping that nobody was planning a holiday to Moscow and suggesting Vladimir Putin’s regime had targeted the wrong Joe Biden.
Also on the “stop list” were Secretary of State Antony Blinken, CIA chief William Burns, Lloyd Austin, the defence secretary, and Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, along with Hillary Clinton.
The longer list released on Saturday also includes Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and billionaire investor George Soros. Alongside politicians from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Marjorie Taylor Greene, the list also includes several politicians who are dead such Senator John McCain.
