Sen. Mike Lee granted visa to Russia after other senators’ requests are denied

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) has been granted a visa to visit Russia after Moscow previously rejected two other senators’ requests to be allowed to travel to the country.

A spokesman for Lee told The Hill that the Utah Republican will travel to Russia from Sept. 5 to 8 and will meet with government officials and members of the business community, as well as outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Russia and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.

{mosads}Lee intends to discuss “trade and military relations, [and] religious liberty,” the spokesman said. “It is important for the United States to maintain a strong and open dialogue with the Russian Federation in order to make progress on matters that are central to American peace and prosperity.” 

Politico first reported the news of Lee’s visa.

Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), both of whom sit on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said last week they were denied visas.

“Unfortunately, the Russian government is further isolating their country by blocking our visit and several others in recent months,” Murphy said last week. “With the collapse of recent arms control agreements and significant domestic opposition to Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian rule, this is potentially a perilous moment for our two nations’ fragile relationship, and it’s a shame that Russia isn’t interested in dialogue.”

Russian President Putin has been a top target of bipartisan members of Congress who have panned the strongman over Moscow’s efforts to meddle in the 2016 presidential race.

However, President Trump has worked to improve the White House’s relationship with Putin, raising bipartisan criticism.

Russia in 2015 banned several members of Congress from visiting, including the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) over his support of sanctions against Moscow for its annexation of Crimea.