There are 18 names in the Russian response to the "Magnitsky list", the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday, ITAR-TASS reports. The published "Magnitsky list" is open blackmail to which Russia has no right not to respond, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated, commenting on the list of 18 Russian officials published by the American government on Friday.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has expressed regret in this connection. "Our assessment of the unfriendly step is well known – under the pressure of Russophobic-minded members of the U.S. Congress, a powerful blow was dealt on bilateral relations and mutual confidence," the ministry said.
The names of Americans on the stop-list were placed on the Russian Foreign Ministry' website on Saturday. In accordance with the federal law on measures against persons involved in violation of basic human rights and freedoms, rights and freedoms of citizens of the Russian Federation, the Americans are banned from entering Russia.
"The "war of lists" is not our choice, but we have no right not to respond to the open blackmail," the ministry stated. "It is time for politicians in Washington to finally realize that building relations with such a country as Russia in the spirit of mentoring and open dictating is futile,” the Foreign Ministry stressed.
Russkiy Mir Foundation Information Service
