DISINFO: Anti-Russian sanctions are unfair
SUMMARY
Western methods in sanctions policy are being rejected by all other states, including post-Soviet countries. These are unlawful measures, known as secondary and tertiary sanctions, where some do not like how two completely independent countries build their relations with each other, have nothing to do with international law. The globalisation principles which the West promoted as eternal have been trampled on by the West itself. But the honest and fair principles of interaction between Russia and its partners remain so.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claiming that Western sanctions imposed on Russia in the wake of its aggression against Ukraine, are unfair and Russophobic. This claim was made in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Sanctions are a response to Russia’s aggressive foreign policy and its recurring violation of international law, including its invasion of Ukraine. Initially, the EU imposed restrictive measures on Moscow to respond to the illegal annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014. More sanctions have been imposed since Russia launched its unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Despite Russia’s claims that these restrictive measures are inefficient and even harmful for the European Union, the opposite is correct.
The sanctions policy is a long-term one, but some of these measures have yielded results. The sanctions are being introduced in several stages, gradually expanding and targeting more individuals, companies, and entire sectors of the Russian economy, such as oil and gas exports.
The aim of the sanctions is to impose severe consequences on Russia for its actions and to effectively thwart Russia's ability to continue its aggression. Read more about the EU sanctions against Russia.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that EU sanctions are illegitimate and contradict international law, that Russian economy thrives despite EU sanctions, and that Sanctions imposed on Russia only led to economic growth in the country.