American journalist David Satter critical of Putin kicked out of Russia

Russia has expelled an American journalist living in Moscow and author critical of President Vladimir Putin.

David Satter, a former Moscow correspondent for the Financial Times and author of three books on Russia and the former Soviet Union, had been working as an adviser to the U.S. broadcasters Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty since September.

Satter told CNN he had gone to the Ukrainian capital Kiev to exchange his existing visa for a correspondent's visa when he was told his application had been rejected.

The application was rejected on the grounds that his presence in Russia was 'undesirable'. He is now in London until it is figured out what to do next.

Satter is a fellow at Johns Hopkins University and the Hudson Institute, a U.S.-based think tank. He has written extensively on the history of Russia in the post-Soviet era.

In a prepared statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused Satter of violating entry visa regulations.

He is now barred from the country for five years.