Political expert Andriy Zolotaryov commented on Russia’s sanctions imposed against many Ukrainian politicians; he shared his views on Facebook.
'Many saw the absence of common sense in the reflecting sanctions list of Russia, which was a hot topic on Thursday. Indeed, the list is rather diverse, it contains the names of political and business big cheeses and political 'pawns' for whom this situation will be the peak of their career. There is a reasonable logic here,' he believes.
The expert sees two vectors in the list. The first one is oriented at the Russian domestic political discourse.
'The list is full of 'hawks' from 'to-the-bitter-end war party' and media-clownish characters like Havrylyuk and Parasyuk. The question is what for? The answer is clear. It is necessary to demonstrate the talk show audience, the consumers of the political information, the waythat one is punished for anti-Russian position. At least, to create an illusion. Such demands were present in the Russian media and political sphere for a long time,' Zolotaryov said.
The second vector is external; it is aimed outwardly, at the part of Ukraine’s politicum which refers to “the party of peace”.
'The opponents consider them pro-Russian politicians, yet, it is just an old propaganda cliché. Probably, before a new electoral course, using the stick-and-carrot method, the Kremlin motivated this flank of the Ukrainian politics if not to surrender, then to have a more active, even a radical position,' Zolotaryov wrote.
He also added that the period of talks on 'huge importance of Minsk Agreements' without no actions to promote them is coming to an end.
As we reported, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed an order which imposes sanctions against a list of physical and legal entities of Ukraine.
In particular, sanctions were imposed against Ukraine’s Internal Minister Arsen Avakov, acting Health Minister Ulyana Suprun and Culture Minister Yevgen Nyshchuk, Minister of Education Liliya Grynevych, Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan, Ecology Minister Ostap Semerak, Information Policy Minister Yuriy Stets, Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak, Deputy Defence Minister for European integration Anatoliy Petrenko and Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.
President’s son Oleksiy and Press Secretary Svyatoslav Tseholko were included in the list; however, the President's name is not there.
Later, spokesperson of the Russian president Dmitriy Peskov claimed that the presidents are not included in the sanctions lists because 'it is beyond all reasons'.
