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CT attorney general finds himself on latest Russian sanction list. 'Beyond absurd,' he says

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, saying Mifepristone “in Connecticut, legal, safe, effective and available; period full stop,” holds a printout of a decision from a Texas federal court aiming to restrict access to the drug. Tong called the decision “aggressive,” “idealogical,” and “nonsensical.”
Mark Mirko
/
Connecticut Public
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong is among 500 people sanctioned by Russia for the United States' support of Ukraine.

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong is among the Americans most recently sanctioned by Russia. The list, which contains restrictions for 500 people, was recently reported in the New York Times. The restrictions come as the latest retaliation for the United States' support of Ukraine’s effort to beat back a Russian invasion.

Tong said Tuesday he received no formal notification from Russia, but he has apparently been banned from Russia and subjected to financial restrictions by the country. Tong was one of hundreds of names listed in a document posted on the website for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

The Russian government agency said Tong and the others on the list will be permanently barred from entering the federation. In the statement, the Russian agency said it wants to punish people who persecuted those who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Tong called the sanctions "outlandish" and said President Vladimir Putin continues to attempt to undermine public faith in the legitimacy of U.S. elections.

"The Russian Government targeting Connecticut's Attorney General with sanctions is beyond absurd," Tong said, in a statement. "But this action also reflects how desperate the Putin regime is to infect disinformation into every level of government in America, to legitimate their murderous war on the Ukrainian people, and prop up their pro-Russia puppets and assets in our country."

The Russians also say they are sanctioning the leaders of companies that supply weapons to Ukraine.

A number of leaders at defense contractors with operations in Connecticut were also apparently sanctioned.

Former Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman is also now blocked from entering Russia. The Russian government highlighted Lieberman's role on the board of directors of a national security think tank called the Center for a New American Security.

Connecticut’s entire congressional delegation was previously sanctioned by Russia.

Matt Dwyer is an editor, reporter and midday host for Connecticut Public's news department. He produces local news during All Things Considered.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Connecticut Public’s journalism is made possible, in part by funding from Jeffrey Hoffman and Robert Jaeger.