MOSCOW, September 1 /TASS/. US expansion of the anti-Russian sanctions is a signal to European partners that the policy towards Russia remains unchanged, Frants Klintsevich, the first deputy head of the Russian Federation Council Committee for Defense and Security, said.
"The United States has become convinced that it is impossible to influence Russia in such a way. First and foremost, the move is a signal to the U.S. European partners who are being clearly warned that the course towards Russia should remain unchanged," Klintsevich told TASS on Thursday.
According to Klintsevich, the United States has made another unfriendly step towards Russia. "The bridge over the Kerch Strait will be ready on time anyway despite all the sanctions, which the Americans are imposing on companies that are involved in the project," the Russian lawmaker said.
On Thursday, the U.S. government expanded its list of unilateral economic sanctions imposed on Russian individuals and legal entities over the conflict in Ukraine.
The renovated U.S. sanctions list includes a number of Gazprom sister structures and other Russian companies, including those involved in the construction of a bridge over the Kerch Strait (SGM-Most; Mostotrest; St.Petersburg-based Gidrostrojmost).
Seventeen new names, including Eduard Basurin, a representative of the DPR operational command, have been added to the sanctions list of Russian and Ukrainian nationals.
Sanctions have been imposed on another 19 Russian companies, including the Sovmortrans group specializing in multi-modal and intermodal transportation.
Gazprom-Media, and regional branches of Gazprombank, which has been on the U.S. sanctions list since 2014, has been added to the list of sectoral sanctions.
AO Gazprom-Media Holdings was founded on January 21, 1998. It owns NTV, TNT, Match TV and "2x2" television channels. Dmitry Chernyshenko is Gazprom-Media’s director-general and chairman of the governing board.