Russia vows revenge after saying US denied journalist visas

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov blasted the US on Sunday after alleging Washington barred journalists from joining him on a trip to the United Nations — and vowed Moscow “will not forgive” the denial.

Lavrov strongly hinted at revenge after claiming the US rejected visas to Russian reporters who wanted to cover Lavrov’s trip this week to New York, where he’s expected to appear at the UN to mark Russia’s chairmanship of the Security Council.

The US State Department had no immediate comment on the Lavrov’s claim.

“A country that calls itself the strongest, smartest, free and fair country has chickened out and done something stupid by showing what its sworn assurances about protecting freedom of speech and access to information are really worth,” Lavrov said before leaving Moscow Sunday.

“Be sure that we will not forget and will not forgive,” he warned.

Deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov also weighed in.

“I emphasize that we will find ways to respond to this, so that the Americans will remember for a long time not to do this,” he said.

There are heightened tensions between the two countries following Russian authorities’ arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich last month. Russia has accused him of espionage; the US has declared he’s been “wrongfully detained.”

The relationship between the US and Russia has also worsened since the Kremlin decided to invade Ukraine in February 2022.

With Post wires