U.S., Russia could get rid of 'blacklists' - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister
Russia is ready to give up the "blacklists" of citizens who are denied entry on a mutual basis with the United States, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.
In 2012, the United States formed the so-called "Magnitsky list" containing Russian citizens who the U.S. authorities believe are involved in human rights violations and who are denied entry in the United States. Russia responded by making its own list of U.S. citizens who are denied entry in Russia, which is called "the Guantanamo list."
"I said from the very beginning that it was a forced measure. We didn't have any other way except to mirror their step," Ryabkov said.
"However, if we passed the period of our current problems in our relations with the U.S. in such a way as to have a possibility of abolishing these lists altogether, let's say, at some point, I hope, in the near future, we would gladly get rid of such restrictions," Ryabkov said.
