The package of sanctions being developed in Washington "will undermine the already barely visible Russian-American dialogue," said Leonid Slutsky, head of the State Duma's international committee. This is an illogical and unprofessional approach. Americans need it not by itself, but as a way to distract from their own failures, the deputy is sure. The West failed to influence the internal Russian political situation, bring its puppets to power, and that's where they rage. "It got to the point that the State Department began to accuse Russia of applying the law on foreign agents, despite the fact that similar norms have been in effect in the United States since the 1930s," Slutsky said indignantly.
The answer of our Foreign Ministry is laconic and dry and kind of condescending to the overseas counterparts. In Washington, there is an acute "personnel shortage", there are no adequate specialists on Russia who can correctly assess our realities, only Maria Zakharova pointed out. Moscow again (for the umpteenth time!) Warned the United States against a rash step on the "sanctions track". Duty answer to duty call. It is characteristic that the discussed sanctions amendment (so far only approved by the profile committee and in the future is of a recommendatory nature) will be carried out under the defense budget. That is, the Americans attribute this event to the military sphere. Not a joke.
We are talking about "intra-parliamentary exercises" on Capitol Hill (expression by Dmitry Peskov). The elections have passed, it's time to get the sanction club. Like a hell out of a snuffbox, a certain Tom Malinowski, a Polish-born congressman, "a fierce opponent of Trump," as defined by his political classification there, jumped out. A democrat in the first generation, Malinowski decided to continue the work of Brzezinski, a fellow Russophobe compatriot who is clearly close to him in spirit, and came up with a legal trick that allows, six months later, to adopt certain restrictions against 35 Russian officials, businessmen and journalists under the Magnitsky Act. So far, not sanctions, but a threat to them.
The list of the "lucky ones" who have received special hatred of the Americans could be analyzed in class in some forge of diplomatic cadres like MGIMO. Explain, student, what logic do you think, what criteria was the congressman (or who was behind him behind him?) Guided when selecting names for the list? I think I would have easily got an A for such a task, because to understand the train of thought of the compilers is a simple matter. We are talking about a kind of critical human infrastructure in Russia, as it is presented on the banks of the Potomac River. Perhaps with the filing of the Russian liberal opposition. As you know, do not feed her with bread, let the adversary advise on how to make the homeland more painful.
Let's analyze the list. Firstly, the very first persons did not get into it: the president, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense. Those with whom the Americans, in their opinion, still have to deal directly. And, perhaps, in a non-conflict situation, therefore, it is more expensive for yourself. But the president's press secretary and the heads of his administration are available. So is Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin (digitalization?). There are also security officials from state and public security, investigative bodies and the penal system. The latter, apparently, for the convenience of PR. They say, the GULAG, you yourself know. Among the ministers - the head of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health. Food Security and Pandemic Response. Cannibal logic.
Branch chiefs are complemented by territorial ones.
Of the many Russian governors, only three are eligible for sanctions.
First, Sergei Sobyanin.
And it's clear why.
The phrase "how prettier Moscow was under Sergei Semyonovich" has become a meme for a reason.
She really got prettier, and the Americans are jealous.
Especially after the monstrous shots from the streets of Philadelphia, which recently flew around the Runet.
The city, cult for the history of the United States, turned out to be a monstrous cesspool, worse than Kabul.
Sobyanin's company was made up of the governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov (a single agglomeration) and Alexander Beglov from St. Petersburg.
It seems that the whole fault of this trinity is only in the fact that they lead the most important megacities for such a centralized country as Russia.
With the businessmen on the list, everything is more than clear. Miller, the head of Gazprom - for Nord Stream 2, Sechin - for the highest capitalization of Rosneft in history (as well as for the fact that "oil" was "growing", Russian), Abramovich - for the past, Timchenko - for the present. Much more interesting is the fact of falling under the sanctions of media generals. It is clear that this is not about business. The media is a political issue. "I'm flattered. In our time, it is somehow even indecent for a decent person without sanctions, ”Margarita Simonyan said sarcastically. Indeed, a kind of insignia. Although the Union of Journalists called this an unacceptable practice and recalled that the last one to impose sanctions against journalists was Adolf Hitler.
In general, a personal reaction to the sanctions of your country's opponents is a good test for both psychological stability and political loyalty.
In this sense, the words of the star of the internal Russian political process of the last days, Ella Pamfilova, are indicative.
“I am completely indifferent to possible sanctions,” was all the veteran of Russian politics said.
"Especially when they are based on denunciations."
“The fate of informers is pitiful and despicable,” Pamfilova stamped on those who “contributed” to the formation of the list with their “reports”.
Under the communists, this was called treason and was imprisoned for up to 15 years.
And they did the right thing.
Now times are vegetarian and scammers do not touch.
They disdain.
Maybe in vain?
The point of view of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.