The Russian foreign ministry on Wednesday responded to the new sanctions imposed on the country by the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) over the treatment of Kremlin critic and opposition leader Alexei Navalny, labelling the punitive measures as a “hostile” act. Moscow said that though the restrictions were aimed “to punish” Russia, such actions would only prove to be “counterproductive” and further “aggravate” bilateral relations.
The US and EU announced the coordinated sanctions against Russia on Tuesday over Navalny’s poisoning, arrest, and imprisonment. US officials said that the measures would target seven senior members of the Russian government, including FSB director Aleksandr Bortnikov, along with 14 other individuals “based on their proliferation activities in support of Russia’s weapons of mass destruction programs and chemical weapons activities.”
However, Moscow denied all allegations and said that claims related to the alleged poisoning of Navalny with “some chemical warfare agent” was just a pretext for the continued “undisguised interference” in Russia’s internal affairs. “We will not accept this,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, adding, “Based on the principle of reciprocity, we will respond but not necessarily with symmetrical measures.”
Also read: Russia Sentences Opposition Leader Navalny to Prison, Sparking Global Outrage
Navalny, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was poisoned by a nerve agent known as Novichok in August. He was flown to Germany for treatment and has been in Russian custody since January when he returned to the country. Navalny has been charged with violating his probation for a previous suspended sentence for fraud charges and was last week moved to a penal colony outside of Moscow to serve his jail term of more than two and a half years. Both the US and EU held off on imposing punitive measures in the immediate aftermath of Navalny’s sentencing and repeatedly called for his unconditional and immediate release. However, the lack of response from Moscow compelled them to act against Russia’s aggressive behaviour.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday that the US had sent a “clear signal that Russia’s use of chemical weapons and abuse of human rights have severe consequences.” However, Moscow said any measures to exert pressure on it “have failed in the past and will fail now.” Zakharova also called the US “a serial violator of international treaties and agreements” and said that Washington was in no position to “lecture” others. “Regardless of the US’s enthusiasm for sanctions, we will continue to consistently and resolutely uphold our national interests and rebuff any aggression. We urge our colleagues not to play with fire,” she said, adding, “If the US is not ready for an equitable and reasonable dialogue, this is their choice.”