Russia extends travel ban in response to US Magnitsky list
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E-mail Xinhua, February 3, 2016
Russia Tuesday imposed travel ban on five U.S. officials following the U.S. move to extend the so-called Magnitsky list that targets 39 Russian individuals on human right violations charges.
"We are publishing the list of five U.S. justice officials who are banned from entry to Russia in response (to) anti-Russian policies conducted by Washington," the Foreign Ministry said in an online statement.
"The decision of Barack Obama administration on the expansion of the so-called Magnitsky list delivers another blow to bilateral relations," the statement said.
Washington on Monday added five Russian individuals to the list of people under sanction of the 2012 Magnitsky Act.
The U.S. bill targeted Russian citizens allegedly responsible for the death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in 2009, who was described by the United States as a fighter against corruption among Russian officials.
In the statement, Russian Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. of spreading "baseless" and false information against Russia, as well as "unscrupulous campaign to discredit our country."
The ministry also criticized the U.S. for "racially-motivated arbitrary actions of the police" and its penitentiary system.
The Russian government has already imposed various sanctions in response to the Magnitsky list, including denying Americans adoption of Russian children.
Russia published its initial travel ban list of 18 U.S. citizens in 2013, which was called "Guantanamo list," and later barred another 12 Americans from entering the country in 2014.
Russia's relations with the United States deteriorated over Moscow's absorption of Crimea and alleged involvement in the Ukraine crisis. There have also been disagreements between the two countries on Syria issues.
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