Russia targets more MPs with special economic sanctions

The Russian government issued a resolution on Dec. 11
to expand its list of Ukrainian MPs targeted with sanctions, or “special
economic measures.” The targeted MPs are the leaders of the pro-presidential
People’s Servant party, including speaker Dmytro Razumkov, first deputy speaker
Ruslan Stefanchuk, PACE delegation head Yelyzaveta Yasko, energy committee head
Andriy Gerus, MP Maksym Buzhanskiy, and even Geo Leros, who has filed criminal
complaints alleging corruption in the President’s Office. The last time the
list was expanded was on Sept. 4 when 41 Ukrainians MPs were added, the most
being from the neoliberal Voice party. No People’s Servant MPs were on the list
at that time. The list now consists of 849 Ukrainian citizens.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Dec.
12 to condemn the Russian government’s latest attempt at pressure. “This
illegal step is a continuation by the Russian Federation in its aggression
against Ukraine in all of its forms and appearances. The Ukrainian side
maintains the right to use the appropriate measures to react accordingly to the
norms and principles of international law,” the statement said.

Zenon Zawada: These Russian sanctions are merely the latest of many instruments of
pressure on Ukraine. They won’t change much, in and of themselves. The
pro-Western MPs handle the sanctions as a source of pride, especially since
most don’t have any business in Russia. They have a larger effect on the
Russian-oriented politicians and entrepreneurs, many of whom have been already
targeted. In going after MPs
like the overtly pro-Russian Buzhanskiy, the Russians are expressing their disappointment
with their performance and seeking better results from them in bringing about
Ukraine’s capitulation.