Russia’s Permanent Representative at EU: EU’s sanctions against Crimea are a stupidity and a paradox

Moscow believes that the EU’s sanctions against Crimea are a stupidity and a paradox, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the EU Vladimir Chizhov said during a TV link-up on Friday.

“Looking at the last portion of their sanctions, I wonder – formerly such measures were accompanied with declarations that they were aimed against leaders rather than the population. It is a generally accepted fact that the economic sanctions are having a bad effect on the Russians. Their last restrictions are paradoxical: if they in the EU regard Crimea as part of Ukraine, it means that their sanctions are anti-Ukrainian,” Chizhov said.

“These sanctions are aimed not against the leaders of Crimea, they are hindering normal life on the peninsula. Their export ban includes air conditioners. What is this if not undermining the welfare of the people they in the EU regard as Ukraine? Isn’t this a stupidity?” Chizhov said.