Russia warns it will “not forgive” US denial of visas to journalists; called the decision “stupid” and “cowardly”

This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Moscow ‘Won’t Forgive’ US Denial of Visas to Journalists They were to accompany him to the headquarters of the United Nations.

“We will not forget, we will not forgive,” said Lavrov, who will chair meetings of the UN Security Council in New York, the body’s headquarters, on Monday and Tuesday.

The Russian minister called Washington’s decision “stupid” and “cowardly.”

This month, Russia assumes the chairmanship of the UN Security Council in rotation, meaning each month it is the country’s turn – whether it is a permanent member or not – in alphabetical order.

The Russian presidency has unleashed an avalanche of criticism at the height of the offensive in Ukraine.

💬 Sergey Lavrov on the refusal of US visas to Russian journalists:

❗️ A country that calls itself the strongest, most free and fair, got cold feet and did something stupid, demonstrating what its claim to freedom of speech is worth.

🔗 https://t.co/yaVLIT5dxs pic.twitter.com/ret4lqtTYG

— MFA of Russia 🇷🇺 (@mae_rusia) April 23, 2023

“The country that claims to be the smartest, strongest, freest, chickened out and even did something stupid,” Lavrov lamented.

The United States, he continued, “has shown its worth [sus] statements on freedom of speech”, refusing visas to Russian journalists.

a few hours before, Deputy Minister Sergei Ryabkov pointed out that despite “repeated contacts in recent days” from Moscow, Washington did not “issue visas” to journalists who were supposed to accompany Lavrov to the United States.

Repressions against American journalists in Russia

Ryabkov criticized the US’s “outrageous and totally unacceptable method” and accused them of pretending to work on “finding a solution.”

“We will find ways to respond to this so that Americans will remember for a long time that this is not being done. And they will remember it,” he warned.

This was announced by a diplomatic source quoted by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti. in retaliation, “there is no doubt that American journalists [en Rusia] experience all the “troubles and inconveniences”and a similar attitude” from the Russian authorities.

When asked by AFP, the US State Department said that it usually issues visas to Russian delegates to UN events, but justified the timing of consideration of applications by referring to the restrictions imposed on employees of the US embassy in Moscow, whose number has significantly decreased since the start of the military offensive against Ukraine.

“Every year we issue hundreds of visas for delegates from Russia to UN events. To get treatment on time [deseado]we regularly remind the Russian mission to the UN – as in all other UN missions – that the United States needs [recibir] applications as soon as possible,” the State Department spokesman said in a statement.