MOSCOW, July 16. /TASS/. Russian MP Andrey Krutov’s proposal to lift counter-sanctions from Greece has sparked controversy in the State Duma and Civic Chamber. Krutov was described as "a national traitor" and "foreign collaborationist."
The Izvestiya daily earlier reported that Krutov from A Just Russia party has submitted a request to the Russian President Vladimir Putin to reconsider Russian counter-sanctions against Greece. The MP said "Greece is Russia’s reliable partner" and that it is "close to Russia not only economically, put also spiritually - this is one of very few Orthodox countries in Europe."
Commenting on the situation, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) faction’s deputy head Alexey Didenko said: "This is an inconsistent and emotional proposal. There is no logic in it on Russia’s position toward EU, since Greece was a member of the European Union and remains its part, despite all referendums." Thus, Krutov’s proposal was "traitorous", he continued. "Deputy Krutov should make it clear who he is siding with. [He made] an unbalanced and untimely proposal," Didenko added.
Civic Chamber member Sergey Markov shares this point of view. "Krutov’s proposal undermines our system of counter-sanctions. A questions arises on whether Krutov is a foreign agent and serves interests of someone else," Markov said. "It would be strange if we cancelled our counter-sanctions against Greece which participates in EU’s sanctions regime against Russia. Greece could just recently veto extending sanctions against Russia, but the Greek government did nothing," he concluded.
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