On Wednesday, the Russian government imposed “tit-for-tat restrictions” on 398 members of the United States (US) Congress and 87 Canadian senators in retaliation to similar sanctions placed on members of the Russian State Duma last month.
In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry explained that the sanctions apply to top officials as well as other important members of the US House of Representatives, noting that now “all members of the US Congress have been blacklisted on the basis of reciprocity,” referring to an earlier set of Russian sanctions that targeted senior US politicians and Biden administration officials. Moreover, Moscow warned that it has also prepared further countermeasures that are ready for imposition in the “near future” as Washington continues to level sanctions.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) blames Ukraine for being invaded: "You see Ukraine just kept poking the bear, poking the bear, which is Russia, and Russia invaded. And the hard truth is ... there is no win for Ukraine here. Russia is being very successful in their invasion." pic.twitter.com/RVHeMzSJ2F
— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) March 22, 2022
Russia’s list covered several Republican representatives, including Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Matt Gaetz of Florida, and Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina, who were sanctioned despite their comparatively less critical stance towards Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine. Last week, Greene and Gaetz even voted against a ban on Russian energy imports. Furthermore, Greene and Cawthorn have publicly criticised the Ukrainian government, with the latter calling the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, “a thug.”
Notably, Russia’s list does not include Republican representative Adam Kinzinger, and Democratic representatives Eric Swalwell and Raja Krishnamoorthi—all of whom have explicitly expressed disapproval of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Putin is imposing sanctions on 398 members of the US Congress. Kind of makes you wonder about the 137 members of Congress who are on the Kremlin's good list.
— Brian Zahnd (@BrianZahnd) April 13, 2022
In a similar vein, the Russian government also counter-sanctioned 87 Canadian senators for blacklisting and sanctioning all members of the Russian Federal Assembly. Senator Percy Downe, who was omitted from the list, remarked that he has been under Russian sanctions since 2017. Senator Tony Dean, on the other hand, mentioned that he will “complain” to Moscow regarding his omission.
The Kremlin’s imposition of more sanctions comes against the backdrop of Putin admitting earlier this week that the US-led Western sanctions have “achieved certain results” in affecting the Russian economy.
I’ll wear this as a badge of honor. I’m proud to have been sanctioned today by Putin’s authoritarian regime for standing up for freedom, democracy and the Ukrainian people. I will continue to hold Russia accountable for their atrocities as a Member of Congress. pic.twitter.com/fQLzkTQFGz
— Angie Craig (@RepAngieCraig) April 14, 2022
Last month, the Russian Foreign Ministry imposed sanctions targeting US President Joe Biden and a dozen other officials such as Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, and non-governmental individuals, including former Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, citing the “extremely Russophobic” actions taken by them. Likewise, Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau and high-ranking officials of his government were also targeted.
Meanwhile, responding to Biden’s earlier categorisation of Russia’s military actions in Ukraine as “genocide,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Biden’s comments were “unacceptable,” and instead pointed out Washington’s history by saying that it has committed “well-known deeds in modern and recent history.”