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Anti-Russian sanctions

Moscow disappointed by expansion of Swiss sanctions on Russia — Foreign Ministry

The Federal Council (government) of Switzerland approved on March 6 additional measures aimed at prevention of the use of the Swiss Confederation territory for bypassing the EU anti-Russian sanctions

© ITAR-TASS/Gennady Khamelyanin

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MOSCOW, March 11. /TASS/. Switzerland’s decision to expand sanctions against Russia looks absurd against the background of Moscow’s efforts to promote the implementation of the Minsk agreements, Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

"We are disappointed by this decision taken by Berne that continues in defiance of common sense, the real situation and to its own disadvantage to support European Union’s unfriendly steps against Russia," the ministry said.

According to the Foreign Ministry, "These measures look particularly absurd against the background of our country’s active efforts to promote the implementation of the Minsk agreements and visible progress in the observance of the ceasefire regime by all sides of the internal Ukrainian conflict and the withdrawal of heavy weapons."

The Federal Council (government) of Switzerland approved on March 6 additional measures aimed at prevention of the use of the Swiss Confederation territory for bypassing the EU anti-Russian sanctions.

The website of the government of Switzerland reported then that the country expanded sanctions against Russia, closing its territory to 28 individuals and entities from the EU "black list" and, in particular, prohibiting Swiss entrepreneurs to have business contacts with them. The Federal Council decided to expand measures to prevent the circumvention of international sanctions, the statement says.

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According to the decision, in addition to the EU sanctions of August 27, 2014, Switzerland has introduced trade restrictions against Crimea and Sevastopol, adopted by the European Union in December 2014. Any investment activity in the region is prohibited, says the decision. This applies to investment, tourism and a number of other sectors of the economy.

"In view of the situation in Ukraine, and following decisions taken by the EU, the Federal Council today decided to extend its measures to prevent the circumvention of international sanctions. It added the measures decreed by the EU last December following non-recognition of the annexation of the Crimea and Sevastopol to the ordinance on international sanctions of 27 August 2014. The Federal Council also added to Annex 3 of the ordinance the names of 28 further persons and entities who have had financial and travel restrictions imposed on them in the EU. The amended ordinance with supplemented annexes comes into effect at 6 pm," March 6, says the decision.

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