The European people’s party with the largest number of seats in the European Parliament, expressed support for targeted sanctions against those Russian opposition believes responsible for the persecution of Boris Nemtsov. Today in the headquarters of the Atlantic Council in Washington to discuss the progress of the investigation of his murder. In the near future the resolution could be adopted by the U.S. Senate.
We will remind that earlier the Chairman of Parnassus Vladimir Kara-Murza gave the representatives of the leading parties of the European Parliament – ALDE (Alliance of liberals and Democrats “For Europe”) and the EPP (European people’s party) – a list of eight Russians, the so-called propagandists.
In the “list of original” eight people, journalists Vladimir Soloviev, Arkady Mamontov, Andrey Karaulov, Konstantin Semin, Dmitry Kiselev, the General Director of VGTRK Oleg Dobrodeyev, former head of NTV Vladimir Kulistikov, and also the Deputy of the state Duma Alexei Pushkov.
ALDE the idea of personal sanctions supported (see “NG” on 11.03.16), now about the same and declares the EPP. Party’s press Secretary Ekaterina Kasinga, answering the question of “NG” about the possibility of making the issue of personal sanctions on the European Parliament vote, said its President Joseph Daul welcomes the proposal.
“We are ready to support the initiative of making the sanctions list of eight Russian journalists, which provoked hostility and led a propaganda campaign against the leader of the Russian opposition Boris Nemtsov, – confirmed the “NG” speaker party Siegfried mureşan. – We must make every effort to stop the disinformation campaign in the Russian media, which misleads society. News should be based on verification of facts, objectivity and professionalism, not insults or lies whose sole purpose is to benefit the current government. People in Russia deserve to know the truth.”
The EPP in the European Parliament 215 votes, ALDE – 70. As explained to “NG” the MEP from the ALDE-Petras, Austrevicius, the initiative is likely to maintain and fraction “Green”, which has 50 votes. Despite the fact that for approval you need 350 votes. According to Austrevicius, in the attainability of this leader of the liberals guy Verhofstadt sure. Interlocutor “NG” stressed that “it remains to speak of the Party of European socialists (PES), has the second highest number of mandates. “We do not exclude that we will be supported by deputies of the DOG – it will depend on the wording and composition of the list,” he concluded.
If approved “list of original” by the European Parliament it will be passed to the head of European diplomacy, Mogherini Federica. And then he will have to be approved by the foreign Ministers of the European Union. However, up to this point, based on the list of personal sanctions will be able to enter EU countries.
The Russian opposition is seeking to prosecute people, not only indirectly responsible for the murder of Nemtsov, but also real customers, said Vladimir Kara-Murza. They, we will remind, the consequence has not been officially determined, on the dock – only the immediate perpetrators of the murder. Today this topic is, as found “NG”, will be discussed at the Atlantic Council in Washington. Russia will be represented by Kara-Murza and Jeanne Nemcova.
The event precedes the vote in the U.S. Senate resolution, concerning the establishment of the customer of murder of Nemtsov. It had previously been approved by the foreign Affairs Committee of the Congress. “The main message of the resolution: that Western leaders, including U.S. President, kept this topic in the spotlight, lifted her in official contacts with Russia and gave the Russian authorities to silence her and “to lower on brakes”, – said Vladimir Kara-Murza. – Large probability that the full Senate adopt this resolution and that the US administration will follow her”.
According to first Vice-President of the political technologies Centre Alexei Makarkin, and the possible decision of the European Parliament on the expansion of sanctions, and resolution of the U.S. Congress will be of a recommendatory nature. However, although the practical effect of all of these resolutions will be small, they have a symbolic meaning. According to the expert, this is just another signal of further isolation of the Russian political elite.
