Russia has banned 12 citizen of the United States from entering its territory in response to fresh sanctions by Washington.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in response to the Magnitsky Act, Moscow issued Guantanamo list involving former and incumbent officials guilty of human rights violations and persecution of Russian citizens.

“Last year, we published the Guantanamo List composed of 18 names, which corresponded to the number of Russians in the Magnitsky List. This time, we did the same — banned entry to 12 Americans,” RIA Novosti quotes foreign ministry's spokesperson Alexander Lukashevich.