Moscow is aware of the November 8 decision by the EU Council to adopt additional individual restrictive measures against Russia, expanding the list of sanctioned individuals to include six deputies of the Seventh State Duma from Crimea and Sevastopol.
We consider these EU restrictive measures against the residents of Crimea and Sevastopol as an unwarranted collective punishment of the local population for the free and democratic expression of their will. The Crimeans’ decision to reunite with the Russian Federation is final and will not be changed, and they have delegated their representatives to the Russian parliament in a completely legitimate process.
The EU restrictions against State Duma deputies will not help revive a constructive dialogue between the legislative bodies of Russia and the EU, a dialogue that is badly needed at the current difficult stage in the Russia-EU relationship.
Russia will take appropriate response measures.
