MOSCOW, May 12. /TASS/. A bill providing for criminal liability for implementing US sanctions on Russia will apply to those who contribute to the introduction of sanctions but will not envisage the prosecution of Russian citizens justifying Washington’s moves, First Deputy Head of the United Russia parliamentary faction Andrei Isayev told TASS.

According to him, the bill particularly provides for criminal liability "for officials operating within the Russian jurisdiction, most of whom are Russian citizens violating Russian laws in order to implement the will of another state."

Isayev said that if a company’s head terminates a contract with a sanctioned plant in order to comply with the US decision, "it means that an economic crime is committed, which entails huge economic losses." The lawmaker pointed out that such actions may result in imprisonment of up to four years.

Besides, the document will also include liability for "preparing sanctions against Russia, which refers to the involvement of Russian citizens in another country’s decision aimed against Russia and its people." Such crimes will be punished with imprisonment of up to three years.

"The bill does not mention attempts to justify sanctions, only participation in their preparation," Isayev stressed, adding that it particularly included "the collection of information and compiling lists of individuals for a foreign state to impose sanctions on." "These actions are meant to be based on intent, when an individual realizes that his or her actions may lead to sanctions against Russia and its citizens," the senior lawmaker noted.

Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said earlier that a bill criminalizing the implementation of US sanctions on Russia’s territory may be submitted to the Duma on May 14.