Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky, and Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan on Thursday topped a list of U.S. business luminaries sanctioned by Russia — the latest round of escalating penalties coming after the invasion of Ukraine were imposed.
Prominent journalists have been added to the list of 29 Americans banned from entering Russia “indefinitely”.
ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos and CNN anchor Bianna Golodryga are also subject to the ban.
“When my parents and I left the Soviet Union as refugees in 1980, we were told that our feet would never touch Soviet soil again. I’m guessing the Kremlin has waited more than four decades (and an unprovoked war against a former member state) to make it so official?” Golodryga tweeted after the news broke.
Recent Russian sanctions also targeted several prominent members of the Biden administration and US military — including Vice President Kamala Harris, White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain and Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, was also banned.
ABC host George Stephanopoulos was one of a handful of American journalists to be sanctioned. ABC via Getty Images
When my parents and I left the Soviet Union as refugees in 1980, we were told that our feet would never touch Soviet soil again. I’m guessing the Kremlin waited more than four decades (and an unprovoked war against a former member state) to make it official like that? 🤷🏻♀️ https://t.co/FYnP3Nehhq
– Bianna Golodryga (@biannagodryga) April 21, 2022
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said that “top leaders, businessmen, pundits and journalists who form the Russophobic agenda, as well as the spouses of a number of senior officials” are among those barred from entering the country.
The Kremlin is responding to the crippling sanctions imposed by the US and other western nations. The penalties are aimed at leading Russian banks and corporations, as well as prominent billionaire oligarchs and the family members of figures close to Vladimir Putin, including his daughters.
Russia has blocked access to Meta-owned platforms Facebook and Instagram, claiming the services are guilty of “extremist” activities. LinkedIn has been banned in Russia since 2016.
LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky has been sanctioned. The career networking site has been banned in Russia for several years. Bloomberg via Getty Images
Vice President Kamala Harris was also added to the latest sanctions list. Bloomberg via Getty Images
Executives from Twitter – another social media platform banned in Russia – have been removed from the list. YouTube executives were also spared despite the Google-owned platform’s clashes with Russian authorities.
Russia announced similar sanctions against 61 Canadians – including several journalists.
The Kremlin has tried to restrict the flow of information since it launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in late February.
Several news organizations, including ABC and CNN, restricted their activities in Russia in March after the Kremlin passed a new law allowing authorities to fine or jail journalists they suspect are reporting “fake” news have reported on the Russian military or the Russian government.