Last weekend, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov lashed out at the United States for denying visas to Russian journalists who were expected to accompany him to the UN headquarters.
The Russian foreign ministry stated, "The US embassy was informed that its request for a consular visit to US citizen (Evan) Gershkovich, who was detained on charges of espionage, on May 11 has been rejected."
The ministry referred to the United States' decision to prohibit Russian journalists from flying to the United States as "provocative."
That's what it cautioned "other potential retaliatory allots are being worked". Last month, Gershkovich was detained in Russia and charged with espionage.
The allegations were refuted by his employer, The Wall Street Journal, and US officials.
Gershkovich, who previously worked for AFP, is the first foreign journalist since the fall of the Soviet Union to be charged with spying in Russia.
Gershkovich expressed gratitude to those who have supported him throughout his detention in a statement that was made public by the Journal and distributed by his Russian attorneys.
"I'm lowered and profoundly contacted by every one of the letters I got," the assertion read. " With gratitude, I have carefully read each one."