by Shaun Kenney

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares was included in an elite list of American leaders and political figures as being sanctioned by Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a press release from the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Miyares, who had recently completed visits to Poland and Israel, is the sole Virginia statewide political figure targeted by the Russian government, outpacing both Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Virginia), who serves on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Virginia) was also included in the Russian “no fly” list.

The press statement from Moscow indicates that the 500 individuals sanctioned were selected on the basis of their promotion of democratic ideals and “misinformation” about the Russian government and its political aims. “It is high time,” the statement reads, “for Washington to learn that not a single hostile attack against Russia will be left without a strong reaction. The principle of the inevitability of punishment will be consistently applied, whether we are talking about tougher sanctions pressure or discriminatory steps to hinder the professional activities of our fellow citizens.”

Miyares recently returned from a nine-day overseas trip to Poland and Israel in March 2023 to discuss national security issues with a particular emphasis on combating anti-Semitism. An outspoken defender of Ronald Reagan conservatism, Miyares has been direct about his experiences in Communist-controlled Cuba, a key Moscow ally both during and after the Cold War.

Just recently, the Biden administration approved allowing Ukrainian fighter pilots to train and use the F-16 after Poland and Romania transferred their outdated MiG-29s to Ukraine.

Poland’s intense support for Ukraine — and continued visits from American political leaders — during the Russian special military operation in the Donbas region continues to be a focal point in the conflict.

Shaun Kenney is the editor of The Republican Standard, former chairman of the Board of Supervisors for Fluvanna County, and a former executive director of the Republican Party of Virginia.