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RIA Novosti
The decision of the Council of the European Union (EU) to extend by six months the validity of sanctions against Russians and companies from Russia’s destructive and hurts Europe itself. This opinion on Friday was expressed by the head of the Crimea Sergey Aksenov, which was included in the first sanctions list of the EU.
The EU began to impose sanctions against Russia in connection with events in Ukraine in March 2014. The decision that “in the absence of de-escalation of tensions in Crimea,” the EU will apply “measures of pressure on Russia”, was adopted at an emergency EU summit on 6 March 2014. The day before, on 14 September, the EU Council decided to extend for six months the validity of the blacklist of individuals and organizations of Russia and Ukraine, September 15 it has entered into force.
“With the help of sanctions, the EU is trying to punish Crimeans for a free choice, made in March 2014. It is unfair, stupid and destructive policies that ultimately harm Europe itself and undermines the credibility of European institutions”, — wrote Aksenov on his page in Facebook.
He noticed that the European countries that have imposed sanctions against Russia and the Crimea, “not condemned, and, then, in fact, approved water and energy blockade of the Peninsula from Kiev, which, in essence, is an act of state terrorism”. “Also, we did not hear the words of condemnation or even concerns about the infiltration into our territory subversive groups to commit terrorist acts”, — said the head of the Crimea.
He also said that European sanctions “part of a criminal policy” EU “element of the hybrid war unleashed against Russia and Crimea”. “An effective response to sanctions pressure could be only to strengthen the unity of peoples of Russia on the basis of shared goals and values, relying on its own strength, further enhancing defence and economic potential of our country, — said Aksenov, adding that using public diplomacy to the public of Western countries will be able to convey the truth about the Russian Crimea. — This tool has already proven its effectiveness. Sure, sooner or later Europe will realize the futility of the policy of pressure and sanctions”.
The first sanctions list was published on 17 March 2014, it included 21 people, including the head of the faction of the state Duma “Fair Russia” Sergey Mironov and the head of the Crimea Sergey Aksenov. Then the list was expanded to 11 times (last time — 4 August 2017). Now there are representatives of Russia, the Russian politicians, businessmen and security forces, and leaders of the proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics and a number of their military and political structures. All of them are banned entry to the EU and their assets in case of detection in European banks are frozen.