Russia slaps travel ban on Kamala Harris, Mark Zuckerberg
Russia on Thursday slapped travel bans on US Vice President Kamala Harris, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg and dozens of prominent Americans and Canadians in retaliation for sanctions imposed over Ukraine.
The Russian foreign ministry said the travel restrictions on 29 Americans and 61 Canadians — which also includes defense officials, business leaders and journalists from both countries — would remain in effect indefinitely.
The US list includes ABC News television presenter George Stephanopoulos, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, and the Russia-focused Meduza news site’s editor Kevin Rothrock.
The US defense officials include Pentagon spokesman John Kirby and Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.
The list of Canadians is headed by Cameron Ahmad, who serves as director of communications to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Canadian Special Operations Forces Commander Steve Boivin.
The foreign ministry said the list was comprised of people responsible for the two countries’ “Russophobic” policies.
Russia had earlier banned Facebook and Instagram, which form part of Zuckerberg’s Meta empire, calling them “extremist” organizations.
In response, State Department spokesman Ned Price, who was also listed as being banned, quipped that he was honored.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price speaks during a news conference at the State Department, on March 10, 2022, in Washington, DC. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/Pool/AFP)
“I have to say it is nothing less than an accolade to earn the ire of a government that lies to its own people, brutalizes its neighbors and seeks to create a world where freedom and liberty are put on the run,” Price told reporters.
“It is nothing less than an honor to share that with other truth-tellers,” he said.