Politics · World News Bureau
Russia imposes entry ban on French lawmakers and journalists
Moscow has blacklisted two French parliamentarians and two journalists in a retaliatory measure, with the Kremlin citing the expulsion of a Russian media figure as justification for the move.
LSN World News ·
Russia's Foreign Ministry announced travel restrictions targeting four French nationals on Wednesday, escalating diplomatic tensions between Moscow and Paris. The ban affects two members of the French National Assembly and two journalists, according to Kremlin spokesperson statements.
The Kremlin characterized the action as a response to France's earlier expulsion of a Russian commentator who previously served as head of RT France, the state-backed broadcaster's French branch. Officials described the measure as a proportional countermeasure to what they characterized as politically motivated actions by French authorities.
The sanctions mark the latest exchange in an ongoing series of diplomatic reciprocations between Russia and Western nations. France has not immediately responded to the Russian action, though tensions between Paris and Moscow have remained elevated following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Neither the Kremlin nor the Russian Foreign Ministry identified the specific individuals targeted by the entry ban, though such measures typically prevent travel to Russian territory indefinitely unless formally rescinded.