- Georgia Secretary of State Brad Ravensperger thanked Russia for adding him to the new travel ban.
- “I accept that I am not one of their Russian cups of tea,” he mocked Liszt in a statement on Saturday.
- The move comes as Russia continues to retaliate against the United States over sanctions.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Ravensperger thanked the Russian government for adding him to the list of 500 Americans currently banned from entering the country for allegedly spreading “Russophobia”. represented.
Georgia’s top elections official who rose to national prominence in 2021 for rejecting then-President Donald Trump’s repeated pleas to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory in 2020. Ravensperger vehemently derided the state’s election officials’ inclusion on the list.
“I never knew about my anti-Russian activism, but I accept Russia’s ruling. Russia’s commitment to truth, justice and the rule of law speaks for itself,” Ravensperger said. Said in a statement.
“My commitment to free, fair and accurate elections, my tendency to speak truth to power, and my strong stance on war crimes hurt President Putin’s feelings. I accept that it’s not a cup of tea,” he added. . “I deserved to be on this list and I’m grateful they thought of me.”
The list, released Friday by the Russian Foreign Ministry, contains the names of Americans who are not allowed to travel to Russia.
With Ravensperger on the list, former President Barack Obama, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, several Republican senators, former ambassadors to Russia Jon Huntsman Jr. and John Teft. He will work with many US government officials, including
The move comes as Russia continues to retaliate against a number of Western countries over sanctions imposed since it first invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
The foreign ministry did not specify its grievances against Mr. Ravensperger, but it targeted “government and law enforcement officials directly involved in the persecution of dissidents following the so-called attack on the Reichstag.” contains,” he suggested. ”
Diplomatic relations between the United States and Russia have hit their lowest since the start of the war last year, and President Joe Biden has emerged as one of Ukraine’s strongest allies in the ongoing conflict.
The Biden administration is currently working to get Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovic back to the United States, but Russia recently blocked a request for a consular visit to the journalist, whom he accuses him of being a spy.
Gerszkovic was detained in the country in March and formally Paid In April espionage. The journal vehemently denied the allegations against Gerszkovic.