New US Treasury Department sanctions against Russian individuals and legal entities related to Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Chechnya, are a destructive step of the US administration aimed at deepening the crisis in bilateral relations, Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov said on Thursday, answering questions from journalists.
"There is another unfriendly and destructive step by the administration aimed at deepening the crisis in bilateral relations. Accusations against Russian officials of alleged human rights violations are baseless and do not stand up to criticism," he wrote on the diplomatic mission's Facebook page.
"It appears that with such destructive actions, the administration is trying to distract public attention from serious systemic problems within the United States itself. Including in the area of human rights. Russia has repeatedly advocated abandoning illegitimate unilateral sanctions and returning to normal inter-state relations. This implies equitable and mutually respectful dialogue. We still have not received an answer to our initiatives," Antonov added.
Slutsky: there are no grounds for including Kadyrov and the Akhmat Club on the Magnitsky List
Leonid Slutsky, the chairman of the State Duma Committee on Foreign Affairs, believes that the inclusion of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov and several individuals and legal entities associated with him on the Magnitsky List is an indicative action, which has no real basis.
"The inclusion of the head of Chechnya and the Akhmat fighting and football clubs on the Magnitsky Sanctions List is an indicative action by the US administration, with no real basis in fact. The accusations of corruption or human rights violations are absolutely unfounded, and in the case of football, they are simply ridiculous," he said.
Slutsky stated that "targeted and economic sanctions do not work against Russia". "This fact is recognized by right-minded politicians, including in the United States. However, for some people in Washington, they remain a way to justify their stay in power," the deputy summarized.
The US authorities have expanded the list of sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act, the US Treasury Department's website reported on Thursday. Kadyrov, against whom Washington has previously imposed a number of sanctions, was added to the list of sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act, the report said. According to the US authorities, the restrictive measures were introduced because of Kadyrov's involvement in "serious human rights violations".
The sanctions are also aimed at the Akhmat football club, the Akhmat Absolute Championship organization, the Akhmat Kadyrov Foundation, Megastroyinvest LLC and the Akhmat mixed martial arts club. Vakhit Usmayev, the first Deputy Chairman of the Chechen government, is also among those sanctioned.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Valery Sharifulin / TASS
Based on materials from TASS