Press release on the demarche delivered to the US Embassy in Moscow after Russian journalists included in Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s official delegation were denied US visas

An official demarche was delivered to the senior diplomat of the US Embassy in Moscow, who was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on April 27 and served with a note of protest over the provocative actions undertaken by the US diplomatic mission. The Embassy earlier thwarted the issuing of visas to media representatives from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s press pool, who were supposed to accompany him on his trip to New York as part of Russia’s presidency of the UN Security Council.

It was emphasised that such acts of sabotage, aimed at disrupting normal journalistic work, will not remain unanswered. In this connection, the US Embassy was informed that its request for a May 11 consular visit with US citizen Evan Gershkovich, detained on espionage charges, was declined.

Other possible retaliatory measures, about which the US side will be duly notified, are being considered.