Russia to expel 10 US diplomats in response to Biden actions

Russia yesterday responded to a barrage of new United States sanctions by saying it would expel 10 US diplomats and take other retaliatory moves in a tense showdown with Washington.

The Russian Foreign Ministry published a list of eight current or former US officials barred from entering the country, including US Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow would move to shut down those US nongovernment organisations that remain in Russia.

The top Russian diplomat said the Kremlin suggested US Ambassador John Sullivan follow the example of his Russian counterpart and head home. Russia will also deny the US Embassy the possibility of hiring personnel from Russia and third countries as support staff, and limit visits and travel within the country by US diplomats.

The others banned from entering Russia are Susan Rice, a former UN ambassador and now head of the Domestic Policy Council; John Bolton, a national security adviser under former President Donald Trump; James Woolsey, a former CIA director; and Michael Carvajal, director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

This week, the Biden administration announced sanctions on Russia for interfering in its 2020 presidential election and involvement in the SolarWind hack of federal agencies — activities Moscow denies.