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Diplomat says discussion of sanctions by Navalny’s supporters is betrayal of Russia

Maria Zakharova stressed that for the Western countries support for Navalny is a means of trying to enforce a concept of Moscow’s containment

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova Sergei Bobylev/TASS

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova

© Sergei Bobylev/TASS

MOSCOW, February 9. /TASS/. Discussions of EU and US sanctions against Russia by supporters of blogger Alexey Navalny can be interpreted as betrayal of Russia, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on the Vesti FM radio station.

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"It’s banal and vulgar. For our country this affair can have only one interpretation. As for the moral and ethical aspect, it is betrayal," she said.

She stressed that for the Western countries support for Navalny is a means of trying to enforce a concept of Moscow’s containment. She stressed that in all of NATO’s doctrines Russia was described as an adversary.

"They use various means of putting pressure on our country. This is the point of departure and their weapon of choice," Zakharova said.

Earlier, Zakharova said that on Monday Poland’s permanent representation to the EU held an online meeting with Russian opposition members in which not only EU member-states, but also the Untied States and Britain took part.

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