Moscow targets VOA reporter in latest round of sanctions against Americans

On Thursday, more than 200 U.S. citizens, including Voice of America journalists, were sanctioned by the Russian government.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that it was imposing sanctions on Jeff Seldin, who covers VOA’s national security coverage.Seldin is one of several journalists, including some from Washington post and New York Timeswill be included in the latest series of sanctions against US citizens.

A total of 227 U.S. citizens are subject to this round of sanctions for what the Russian government calls “anti-Russian activities.”

“The Russian Federation has banned the entry of 227 Americans who are involved in the formulation, implementation and defense of the Russophobic policies of the current US government,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Statement on its website.

The announcement comes a day before Russia’s presidential election, which President Vladimir Putin is almost certain to win.

Other journalists sanctioned include washington post Joseph Marks, Joseph Men, Alan Nakajima, and Tim Starks.Robert Voss from New York Times Also on the list.

Seldin referred VOA to the outlet’s public relations team, which had no immediate comment.

Seldin is not the first VOA journalist to be sanctioned by Moscow. Yolanda Lopez, the former acting director of Voice of America, was sanctioned by the Russian government in May 2023.

Government officials, including State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, were included in the new list. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to VOA’s request for comment.

Moscow has also sanctioned a large number of professors at Harvard, Yale and Columbia universities.

For Peter Clement, who teaches a course on Russian security policy at Columbia University, being included in this round of sanctions comes as no surprise.

“I’m not surprised. Issuing what they consider to be reciprocal sanctions is consistent with Russia’s past policy,” Clement told VOA.

The Kremlin has blocked more than 2,000 Americans from entering Russia, reportedly in response to U.S. sanctions on Russian individuals and companies.

In response to Russia’s war in Ukraine, the United States and other Western countries have imposed massive sanctions on Russia.

Some of the information in this report comes from AFP.