“This is another unfriendly and destructive step by the administration aimed at deepening the crisis in bilateral relations.
The accusations against Russian officials of alleged human rights violations are unfounded and do not stand up to criticism, ”Antonov said.
He also stressed that "by such destructive actions, the administration is trying to divert public attention from serious systemic problems within the United States itself."
According to the diplomat, Russia has repeatedly advocated abandoning illegitimate unilateral sanctions measures and returning to "normal interstate relations."
Earlier, the US Treasury added the Akhmat football club and the fund of the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, to the sanctions list under the global act of Magnitsky.