OREANDA-NEWS. Republican Senator Ron Johnson (from Wisconsin) said Monday that he was denied an entry visa to Russia. This is stated in a widespread written statement by the press service of the American legislator.

"US Senator Ron Johnson said on Monday that the Russian government had refused an entry visa to Russia as part of a bipartisan delegation to the US Congress. Senator Johnson is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for Europe and Regional Security. He planned to consult with "some Russian officials, American businessmen, civil society organizations, etc." - The press service of the senator, who sharply criticized the corresponding decision, was informed.

The Russian Embassy in the United States reported that Johnson didn't apply to the diplomatic mission for a visa and didn't inform about his plans to visit the Russian Federation.

According to the press service of the senator, he initiated and "supported a number of laws aimed at holding Russia accountable for aggression in Ukraine and the persecution of dissidents". In particular, he advocates the imposition of sanctions against Moscow in connection with the incident on November 25 last year in the Kerch Strait, as well as the construction of the Nord Stream-2 pipeline. The legislator supported the proposal to rename part of the street directly in front of the territory of the Russian Embassy in Washington in honor of Boris Nemtsov.

In 2017, Johnson already planned to visit Russia as part of the delegation of the US Congress, but canceled his trip after his colleague, Democrat Gene Shahin, was denied a visa. Politicians were going to meet with Russian officials and civil society representatives. Russia doesn't publish a list of individuals who are blacklisted in response to US sanctions lists. Earlier, a Russian visa was denied, in particular, to former US ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul and former US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland.