Russia imposes tit-for-tat sanctions on members of U.S. House of Representatives

MOSCOW. April 13 (Interfax) - Russia is imposing sanctions on 398 members of the United States House of Representatives as countermeasures, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"In response to another 'wave' of anti-Russian sanctions imposed by [U.S. President Joe] Biden's Administration on March 24 of this year against 328 deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, which, given the previously blacklisted Russian lawmakers, constitutes virtually its entire composition, tit-for-tat sanctions are being imposed on 398 members of the U.S. House of Representatives," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Wednesday.

"These officials, including the leadership and chairs of the committees of the lower house of the U.S. Congress, are being put on Russia's 'stop list' on a permanent basis. Along with other current lawmakers who, like Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi, were previously banned from entering the Russian Federation, all U.S. Congressmen are 'listed' on a reciprocity basis," the statement said.

"In view of the constantly imposed U.S. sanctions, new Russian countermeasures are planned to be announced in the near future, involving the expansion of the number of persons on the 'stop list' and other reciprocal steps," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The statement lists the names of the U.S. Congressmen sanctioned by Russia.