"Another discriminatory step": Russia responded to US sanctions against three companies

Moscow considers Washington's new sanctions against Russian companies to be illegitimate and discriminatory, said Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov.

Earlier, the United States imposed sanctions on three organizations from Russia for what they, according to Washington, violate US legislation on the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

According to the notification from the US State Department, the new restrictions apply to Aviazapchast JSC, Elekon Plant JSC and the Nilco Group company.

"This is another discriminatory step on the part of Washington, which uses sanctions as the main tool for implementing its foreign policy course," the Facebook ambassador of the diplomatic mission quotes.

Antonov noted that "unilateral US measures are aimed at undermining the economic potential of Russian companies."

The diplomat stressed that such a non-constructive approach does not contribute to the improvement of the climate in Russian-American relations.

Along with this, the ambassador called the actions of the United States illegitimate, "since no country has the right to restrict trade and investment cooperation between Russia and other members of the international community."

He called on American partners to abandon baseless accusations and use political and diplomatic methods.

“We believe that political and diplomatic methods should serve as an alternative to threats and blackmail,” Antonov concluded.

The US sanctions were imposed in accordance with the US law on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction against Iran, North Korea and Syria.

It follows from the document that the restrictions came into force on November 6.

The sanction is valid for two years, but this parameter can be changed by the decision of the US Secretary of State.

The restrictions prohibit any US government agency from dealing with listed companies and also prohibit the granting of licenses to transfer goods under export control to them.

Commenting on the next restrictions on the part of Washington, a member of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Sergei Tsekov noted that the United States "got a taste and can no longer stop."

“They probably already act on the principle - not a single month without any sanctions against companies, enterprises or individuals in Russia.

Of course, all this is outrageous.

Of course, this does not contribute to stability in the world community.

It also does not contribute to the development of the economy and undermines the credibility of the United States itself, "the senator said in an interview with RT.

At the same time, Tsekov noted that Russia is able to benefit from such situations, thanks to the search for alternative markets.

“All this is not from a high political level and intelligence.

And it will end when they understand that it is absolutely hopeless and that they look funny in the eyes of many other countries of the world, ”the senator stressed.

Member of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Anton Morozov, in turn, believes that the United States follows its own economic interests in order to completely dominate certain economic areas.

“If any companies interfere with them, including when obtaining contracts, then they introduce restrictions that remove competitors from the market.

Therefore, the United States will continue this policy until it completely dominates the economic platforms they need, ”the deputy said in an interview with RT.

Note that the Nilco Group, which was included in the new sanctions list, has already come under other restrictions introduced in the fall of 2018 by the US Department of Commerce.

So, on September 25, 2018, the American department added 12 Russian companies to the sanctions list.

The restrictions affected such organizations as Aerocomposite, Divetechnoservice, FSUE NPP Gamma, Research Institute Vector, Obninsk research and production enterprise Technology, Oceanos, Aviadvigatel, Infotex, Precision Instrumentation Systems ", Syrus Systems and Research Institute" Vega ".

As the ministry said then, the listed organizations allegedly acted “against the national interests of the country”.

According to the department, the listed organizations allegedly contributed to the activities of "malicious Russian subjects in cyberspace" or collaborated with the Russian Navy or the military aerospace industry.