MOSCOW, February 9. /TASS/. Calls by Alexey Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) - a registered foreign agent - on the European Union and the United States to impose sanctions on a number of Russian nationals don’t constitute a criminal act, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday.
"It’s not a criminal act de jure," he said, when asked if such calls could be regarded as high treason.
"It’s clear enough how most of our fellow citizens view such actions," Peskov noted. The Kremlin spokesman pointed out that "some lawmakers have suggested such actions should be treated as high treason." The spokesman remained tight-lipped about his own view but said "the idea will definitely have widespread support."
The Anti-Corruption Foundation earlier sent messages to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, asking for sanctions against a number of people from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s close circle. In addition, FBK Executive Director Vladimir Ashurkov published a letter to US President Joe Biden, calling for sanctions on some Russian businessmen and politicians.
On February 8, Russian State Duma (the lower house of parliament) Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin asked Head of the State Duma Committee on Security and Corruption Control Vasily Piskarev to consider the possibility of criminalizing actions that lead to sanctions and harm the country’s people and economy.