Russia slams US after Russian journalists denied visas for UN visit

Russia said on Sunday that the United States has denied visas to journalists who wanted to cover Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's trip to New York, and Lavrov suggested that Moscow would take strong retaliatory measures. There was no immediate comment from the US State Department about the claim of refused visas. The journalists aimed to cover Lavrov's appearance at the United Nations to mark Russia's chairmanship of the Security Council.

"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 on Sunday. "Be sure that we will not forget and will not forgive," he said.

"I emphasise that we will find ways to respond to this, so that the Americans will remember for a long time not to do this," deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said.

The dispute comes in the wake of high tensions with Washington over the arrest last month of WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich, whom Russia accuses of espionage. The United States has declared him to be "wrongfully detained."