U.S. refuses to issue visas to Russian journalists ahead of U.N. Security Council meeting

Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova reported that the U.S. has denied visas to members of the Russian media who were planning to accompany Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov on a trip to New York.

Zakharova published a statement from Lavrov, which he recorded at the airport before the Russian delegation departed for New York. The minister said that in refusing to issue visas, the American side “chickened out, did something stupid, and showed what its promises to defend the freedom of speech are worth.”

“Most importantly, you can be sure: we won’t forget and we won’t forgive,” Lavrov said to employees of RT, Izvestia, and other outlets who did not receive U.S. visas.

A Russian diplomatic source told Russian state-run media that relations with journalists from the U.S. would be “analogous” and that there should be “no doubt that American journalists will experience full discomfort and inconvenience.”

It was previously reported that the U.S. had also denied visas to other members of the Russian delegation.

In April, Russia assumed the presidency of the U.N. Security Council. During his visit to the U.S., Sergey Lavrov will take part in Security Council meetings on April 24 and 25.