The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today, Friday, that former U.S. President Barack Obama is among 500 Americans who will be banned from entering the country in response to the latest round of sanctions announced by Washington. The ministry stated in a statement that Russia rejected the latest U.S. request to allow the consulate to communicate with detained American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in March on charges of espionage. It added, "Washington should have known long ago that not a single hostile attack on Russia would go unpunished."