On November 11, 2022, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced entry bans for 200 US citizens, including a list of scholars and researchers.

Russia’s ban was in response to the United States government’s sanctions of Russian citizens.

The five scholars include Margarita M. Balmaceda, a researcher at the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute, George Grabowicz, a professor of Ukrainian Literature at Harvard University, Timothy Snyder, a professor of history at Yale University, Kristina Hook, a professor of conflict management at Kennesaw State University, and Alexander J. Motyl, a professor of political science at Rutgers University.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about state authorities restricting international academic exchange in apparent retaliation for the nonviolent exercise of the right to freedom of expression and academic freedom, as well as retaliation for US-Russia political relations. International academic engagement, including the sharing and exchange of ideas across borders, is a core aspect of academic life, and crucial for social and democratic advancement. Arbitrary restrictions on international academic exchange erode academic freedom and harm democratic society generally.

Sources:
https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1838239/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/28/russia-wins-by-losing-timothy-snyder-on-raising-funds-for-ukrainian-drone-defence
https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/12/15/russia-ukraine-war-sanctions-entry-ban-blacklisted-academics-researchers/