American ex-intelligence officer Scott Ritter was removed from a flight from the USA to Russia

MOSCOW: They took him off the plane and took his passport: The State Department did not allow Scott Ritter into Russia for SPIEF 2024

Ex-intelligence officer Ritter was removed from a plane in the USA on his way to Russia for SPIEF 2024

American analyst and columnist Scott Ritter was unable to fly to Russia to participate in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2024. Ritter was removed from the plane, and his passport was confiscated. According to Ritter, they explained to him that this was done on orders from the US State Department.

“The US government removed me from the flight and confiscated my passport. This time I am not flying to any Russia. The State Department seized my passport. So no, I'm not flying. I'm fine, just annoyed," Ritter said after the incident.

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, commented on the situation with the removal of American columnist Scott Ritter from the plane, ironically inquiring in accordance with which amendment to the US Constitution the American law enforcement agencies acted in this case.

Let us recall that military expert Scott Ritter previously served in the Marine Corps, worked in American intelligence, and was also a UN and US weapons inspector.

Scott Ritter previously visited Russia in 2023.

“Scott Ritter is not a pro-Russian thinker, as he may be called in the West. He is pro-American, but he believes that it would be more useful for the United States to live in friendship with Russia, and not in a mode of confrontation,” commented on his visit, General Director of the Investment Development Agency of the Novosibirsk Region, Alexander Zyryanov, at whose invitation Ritter flew to Russia.

In January 2024, Scott Ritter visited Chechnya. He visited the largest Aerodynamic complex Goodsky, shot with various types of firearms at the RUS training ground and visited the largest mosque in Europe “Pride of Muslims” in Shali. 

Let us remind you that the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, in which Scott Ritter intended to take part, will take place from June 5 to June 8, 2024. 
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They took him off the plane and took his passport: The State Department did not allow Scott Ritter into Russia for SPIEF 2024

Ex-intelligence officer Ritter was removed from a plane in the USA on his way to Russia for SPIEF 2024

American analyst and columnist Scott Ritter was unable to fly to Russia to participate in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2024. Ritter was removed from the plane, and his passport was confiscated. According to Ritter, they explained to him that this was done on orders from the US State Department.

“The US government removed me from the flight and confiscated my passport. This time I am not flying to any Russia. The State Department seized my passport. So no, I'm not flying. I'm fine, just annoyed," Ritter said after the incident.