Obama’s US Sanctions ’Political Blackmail’: Russia’s Upper House Speaker

Local Editor

The US sanctions imposed on Russian officials by the White House over Russia's takeover of Crimea were denounced as "political blackmail," as Russia's Upper House speaker of parliament, Valentina Matviyenko, told the Interfax news agency on Monday.

Matviyenko said through the news agency that the sanctions imposed by the White House on her and ten other Russia, Crimean, and Ukrainian individuals came in as an "unprecedented" decision that had not even been made during the time of the Cold War.
"This is political blackmail," Matviyenko stated, adding that the sanctions would not have a harmful effect on her as she said, "the US government knows that I have no accounts, assets or property abroad."

She further stated her stance with Russia by saying, "I have always defended and will further defend Russia's national interests, not the geopolitical interests of the West. Nobody can intimidate us."
On Monday, US President Barack Obama issued an executive order that imposes sanctions on 11 Russian, Crimean, and Ukrainian individuals for "contributing to the situation in Ukraine."

The sanctions imposed by the White House also triggered anger among other Russian officials.
Yelena Mizulina, a member of the Duma, called the sanctions "a rude violation" of her rights as a citizen and a politician.

Vladislav Surkov, a senior adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said that being placed on the US sanctions list was a great honor for him.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin also responded ironically to the US sanctions. He wrote in a message posted on Twitter that he was finally getting worldwide recognition.

Obama's order has imposed asset freezes on the officials that are inside the US or "hereafter come within the US." The order also imposes bans on
individuals who are on the sanctions list from travelling to the US.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team