EU sanctions on Russian individuals and entities

Submitted on Thu, 10/15/2020 - 19:14

Over the past day, the European Union has produced a series of sanctions decisions against Russian individuals and entities. In addition to the previously announced steps related to the attempted poisoning of Alexey Navalny, the EU announced sanctions over the alleged involvement in destabilising the situation in Libya, including violating the UN arms embargo on Libya.

The European Union’s reasoning behind these decisions does not stand up to scrutiny and is bordering on the absurd. Of course there is no mention of any real evidence. We consider the EU’s attempts to use the authority of the UN to cover up its unseemly political goals as absolutely unacceptable.

We have warned our colleagues in Brussels and other European capitals more than once that the EU’s stubborn intention to hold Russia responsible for Mr Navalny’s alleged poisoning will be the litmus test of our further relations with the EU. Regrettably, our words went unheeded. These steps will not remain unanswered.

Once again, we are calling the European Union to return to the international legal framework, stop dividing countries into worthy and unworthy of the status of geopolitical partner, and choose stable, progressive cooperation instead of escalating confrontation for political purposes.

Briefing by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Moscow, 15 October 2020