Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has launched a tirade against the US ahead of his planned visit to the United Nations this week, further deteriorating relations between the two superpowers.
Russia has sent a chilling revenge warning to the US in an escalating row over claims the latter has denied visas to journalists who wanted to cover Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s trip to New York.
Lavrov, a close aide of Russian President Vladimir Putin during his country's war in Ukraine, launched a furious verbal attack against the US ahead of his scheduled visit to the United Nations this week, which wraps up his five-day diplomatic trip through Latin America.
In an unexpected twist, the Foreign Secretary has issued a chilling warning after he said the US had denied visas to journalists looking to cover his appearance at the UN this week.
He said before leaving Moscow on Sunday: "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.
“Be sure that we will not forget and will not forgive."
In an equally chilling warning, Russia's deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov 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.
A statement on the website for the Permanent Mission to the Russian Federation to the United Nations also launched a furious attack against the US over the denial of visas to Russian journalists.
This read: "The United States violated again its obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement, having denied issuance of US visas to Russian journalists who were supposed to accompany Minister Lavrov on his official visit to New York to take part in the flagship events of the Russian Presidency of the UN Security Council.
"This was done despite the fact that Russian media representatives complied with all relevant terms and requirements, including a valid UN accreditation.
"We consider this step as another manifestation of neglect of the international law by the United States.
"When denying access to UN events for Russian journalists, the US authorities once again demonstrate their true attitude to freedom of speech and availability of information.
"We count on the UN leadership and specialized international mechanisms to pay due attention to this egregious situation and take all necessary steps against the violator."
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