Russia counters US sanctions, expels 10 diplomats, more actions to follow

In response to the sanctions put in place by US President Joe Biden on Russia, Moscow decided to counter the move on Friday by expelling 10 US diplomats stationed in Russia, according to the announcements made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. 

The retaliatory measures against the US also include attempts to sanction top US officials from Russia and also limit activities of US-based not-for-profit organisations. 

The sanctions have been curated against select US officials from Biden’s cabinet and include FBI director Christopher Wray, US Attorney General Merrick Garland and Susan Rice, the President’s top domestic policy advisor, reported AFP.

Also Read: ‘Prepared to take further actions’: US President Joe Biden warns Moscow

According to Russia’s foreign ministry the officials who were being sanctioned from entering the country had a role to play in the United States’ “anti-Russian push”. Other officials who were barred from entering into Russia were Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons Michael Carvajal, former US President Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor John Bolton, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, former head of the CIA Robert Woolsey and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. 

In a statement given jointly with his Serbian counterpart, Lavrov said, “Ten diplomats were on a list the US side handed over to us asking to ensure their leaving the United States. We will give a tit-for-tat response to that. We will also ask 10 US diplomats to leave our country”, reported CNN.

Also Read: US+NATO vs Russia: Moscow cornered on sanctions

The original sanctions imposed on Moscow have been labeled as a “proportionate response” by Biden in a statement given on Wednesday. The restrictive measures were put in place after US authorities determined numerous offensives concluded by Russia including, interfering in the 2020 Presidential elections in the US, taking part in the SolarWinds hack and increasing military presence along the borders of Ukraine.