"Hostile Actions Are a Boomerang"... Russia Retaliates with Sanctions Against 77, Including US Governors

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Russia has added 77 U.S. political and government figures, considered to be involved in supporting weapons to Ukraine, to its sanctions list. The sanctions list reportedly includes current governors, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of the Democratic Party, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

On the 8th (local time), the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it took this measure in response to the U.S. government's continued expansion of sanctions against Russians. It added, "We once again emphasize that hostile actions against us will boomerang and harm the United States itself."

This sanction comes just one week after the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned 22 individuals and entities related to a sanctions evasion network that supplied advanced defense equipment to Russian companies.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

The current sanctions list includes Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker. Former U.S. military generals and former military attach?s at the U.S. Embassy in Russia were also added to the sanctions list.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year, it has taken retaliatory measures in response to the high-intensity sanctions imposed by Western countries. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has imposed sanctions on a total of 1,344 Americans to date.

In March last year, at the early stage of the conflict, Russia designated 48 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and European Union (EU) member states, as unfriendly countries. South Korea was also included.

Furthermore, individuals, institutions, and organizations considered to have engaged in unfriendly activities against Russia in those countries have been prohibited from all exchanges, including trade and financial transactions and entry and exit to Russia, and lists of targeted individuals and institutions have been compiled.

Last month, 36 individuals affiliated with the British government, judiciary, and media were added to the sanctions list for "propaganda activities that foster distrust against Russia."