Ben Stiller and Sean Penn blacklisted, sanctioned by Russia

Moscow.- Russia’s so-called blacklist has made some recognized names in Hollywood splash, once again the controversy reaches the film industry, amid conflicts between countries. Among the US citizens who have been banned are actors Sean Penn and Ben Stiller.

Within Russia’s blacklist are some US personalities and political figures, which also include Hollywood figures who have been sanctioned for speaking freely in the face of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. A topic in which Sean Penn and Ben Stiller expressed their support for the Ukrainians in the context of the war.

It was the Russian Foreign Ministry, which on 5 September announced the expansion of the blacklist of US citizens that will not be well received in your country. In addition to the two actors, there are 23 other Americans who are banned from entering Russia based on the following argument.

A permanent ban on entry to Russia is imposed on a new group of US Congressmen, senior officials, businessmen and experts, as well as representatives of the cultural sphere (25 people), “Russian diplomacy said in a Note.

Sean Penn and Ben Stiller visited Kiev this year

The Foreign Ministry specified that this is a response measure “to the sanctions against Russian citizens constantly extended by the administration of President Joe Biden”.

Included in the list are Penn and Stiller, who visited Kiev in April and June of this year, respectively, where they met with Ukrainian President Volodímir Zelenski. Both stressed their support for Ukraine and Sean Penn even threatened to destroy his Oscar statuette if the Academy did not give the floor to the president at the awards ceremony.

In addition, the blacklist included Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Undersecretaries of Commerce Matthew Axelrod, Don Graves, Thea Rozman Kendler and Jeremy Pelter, as well as several senators from both parties, businessmen and political analysts.

The United States, along with the United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union and other countries, have imposed sanctions on Russia for its military campaign in Ukraine, which include both personal restrictions such as a ban on dealing with companies or even sectors of the Russian economy. (With information from EFE).