Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denied authorities closed an American school in Moscow in retaliation for U.S. sanctions, and accused Western media of spreading fake news.
“Apparently, the White House has totally lost it and is starting to invent sanctions against their own children,” Zakharova said in a post on Facebook. “It is a lie.”
CNN reported on Thursday that Russian authorities would close the Anglo-American School of Moscow. The move was said to be a response to sanctions against Russian individuals and entities unveiled by President Barack Obama on Thursday in retaliation for alleged election-season hacks.
She said media should not report the story by saying Moscow had denied it, but should “write it like it is.”
“The TV channel CNN and other U.S. [and Western] media have again, quoting American official sources, spread false information.”
Zakharova finished her statement with a veiled attack on Obama.
“Normally, people ask Santa Claus to bring them something. This year I am asking him to take someone away,” Zakharova said.