David Satter, a veteran Moscow-based US journalist has been barred from Russia over his violation of visa rules, Russian authorities said on Tuesday.

      Satter, 66, who has written several books on Russia and the Soviet Union, told CNN that he traveled to Ukraine to renew his Russian visa on Christmas Day but was told by an embassy official that his application had been denied.

      The journalist said that he was on Russia's territory without necessary documents in November 21-26 because Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs didn't send him the formal invitation in time, which is essential for receiving a visa. Satter confessed his guilt for violating visa regime, was fined 5,000 rubles ($180) and deported from Russia.

      However, the Ministry didn't mention in its statement that new Russian visa was approved to Satter in the middle of December. Nevertheless, on December 25 Satter was officially forbidded the country and the official told him that his presence in Russia was deemed undesirable, the reporter and historian told CNN.

      Satter, a former Financial Times and Wall Street Journal correspondent, has since September worked as an adviser to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. He had also been reporting and providing commentary to the outlet's Russian service. Satter’s business visa apparently did not give him the right to work as a journalist in Russia, however.