© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during the Sandy Hook Promise benefit in New York City, U.S., December 6, 2022. REUTERS/David ‘Dee’ Delgado
(Reuters) – The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday that former President Barack Obama was among 500 US citizens who would be expelled in response to the latest round of sanctions announced by Washington.
The ministry also said Russia had rejected the latest US request for consular access to detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in March on suspicion of espionage.
This move was prompted by the US refusal last month to grant visas to media traveling with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to the United Nations, it said in a statement.
“Washington should have learned long ago that not a single hostile attack against Russia will go unpunished,” he added.
Earlier on Friday, the United States announced punitive measures against more than 300 targets, aimed at punishing Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and intensifying one of the toughest sanctions efforts ever implemented.