The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, has considered “unwise” the sanctions policy of the European Union and, in particular, the measures adopted against Russia and China, two of the countries targeted this Monday by the foreign ministers of the community bloc in a new round of punishments.
The EU has included Russia and China among its targets for alleged human rights violations. In the case of Russia, the restrictions are aimed at two people responsible for the persecution of opposition and homosexual groups in Chechnya.
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“It is a mistake to punish someone today in the international arena and it is unwise to use this logic with respect to Russia and China”, said Lavrov, in an interview with Chinese media also echoed by Russian official agencies, prior to the confirmation of the punishments from Brussels.
In this sense, Lavrov pointed out that the punishments end up having collateral effects against vulnerable countries and groups at a key moment such as the COVID-19 pandemic and recalled that several high-ranking UN officials have expressed their “reservations” about this type of policies.
“Unfortunately, some Western countries, led by the United States, are trying to obstruct the establishment of a multipolar democratic world, trying to maintain their dominance in global politics and economy at all costs,” added the head of Russian diplomacy, who defended the “respectful” dialogue between Moscow and Beijing as an example for other countries to follow.
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