Russia has begun to pass its own sanctions against the United States. The new regulations prevent certain Americans from entering Russia in the same manner that U.S. sanctions hinder certain Russian officials and businessmen.

Before the tragic crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over war-torn eastern Ukraine, the U.S. government passed new sanctions against Russian companies, according to The Associated Press. The various Russian companies, including energy firms and financial institutions, have been denied access to U.S. capital markets.

In response to this blow to the Russian economy, Moscow has enacted its own sanctions aimed at the United States. The Washington Post reported that 13 American officials, including a legislator, have been sanctioned by Russia, banning them from entering the nation.

Among those sanctioned is a Democratic congressman James P. Moran from Virginia. He was the only legislator chosen because "he has repeatedly been accused of financial malpractice but avoided responsibility each time," said Alexander Lukashevich, a Foreign Ministry spokesman.

"There is quite a lot of information online about his 'exploits' and special attitude toward our country," the spokesman said.

According to The Associated Press, some of those banned from the country are Guantanamo commander Rear Adm, Richard Butler and Lynndie England, a former soldier convicted of abusing prisoners in Abu Ghraib. Some of the other military officers added to the ban are related to the Abu Ghraib scandal or the Guantanamo Bay prison.

It could be that Russia has targeted this group of men and women in response to the "United States' adding 12 names in May to the so-called Magnitsky List of Russians sanctioned for human rights abuses," The Associated Press reported.

The European Union has also begun putting into effect some new rules, according to RT. Among them, the European Council has asked on Wednesday that the European Investment Bank "suspend the signature of new financing operations in the Russian Federation."

The European Council will not announce what Russian person or institutions will be targeted by its sanctions until the end of the month.

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