Russia Expels 10 U.S Diplomats in Response to Sanctions

Russia is going to expel ten U.S. diplomats in response to sanctions that the Biden administration imposed on Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday.

Moreoevr, Lavrov stated that Moscow will add eight US officials to its sanctions list and move to restrict and stop the activities of US non-governmental organizations from interfering in Russia’s politics.

Attorney General Merrick Garland, Biden's chief domestic policy advisor Susan Rice and FBI chief Christopher Wray would be barred, the foreign ministry said.

The list also include Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons Michael Carvajal, Donald Trump's National Security Advisor John Bolton and ex-head of the CIA Robert Woolsey.

The ministry noted that the officials had "participated in the anti-Russian push" of US politics.

Lists of officials banned from entry are usually kept secret; however, the ministry said it was revealing the names due to the "unprecedented nature" of the current tensions with Washington.

The measures come as part of a broad package of sanctions retaliating against the SolarWinds hack of federal agencies and Russia's interference in the 2020 election.