Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov blasted the United States on Sunday, accusing Washington of preventing journalists from accompanying him on a trip to the United Nations — and vowing Moscow would “not forgive” the denial.
After Lavrov told Russian reporters who wanted to cover Lavrov’s trip to New York this week that the United States had denied him visas, Lavrov said he would retaliate.
The US State Department had no immediate comment on Lavrov’s claim.
“A country that calls itself a strong, intelligent, free and fair country has done something stupid by showing that promises about freedom of speech and access to information are actually worth it,” Lavrov said before leaving Moscow on Sunday.
“Rest assured that we will not forget and we will not forgive,” he warned.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabko was also present.
“I stress that we will find ways to respond to this so that Americans remember for a long time not to do this,” he said.
Tensions between the two countries have risen since Russian authorities arrested Wall Street Journal reporter Ivan Gershkovich last month. Russia accused of espionage; The US has declared that he was “wrongfully detained”.
Relations between the US and Russia have also deteriorated since the Kremlin decided to invade Ukraine in February 2022.
With post wires
