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Russian legislators draft tit-for-tat sanctions on US alcohol, tobacco and agro-products

Draft response to US sanctions may also prohibit participation in privatization of Russian state and city-owned property

© Marat Abulhatin/Russian State Duma Photo Service/TASS

MOSCOW, April 13. /TASS/. Faction leaders and State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin have initiated a bill that spells out Moscow’s retaliatory measures against Washington’s anti-Russian policy.

"The bill was drafted as a tit-for-tat measure against the challenges mounted by the United States and its officials in the form of unfriendly and non-constructive actions, as well as the introduction of sanctions against the Russian Federation in general, its citizens and legal entities," Volodin told reporters on Friday.

Read also

Moscow biding its time to respond to Washington’s latest sanctions

The bill "On measures for influencing (countering) unfriendly actions carried out by the United States and (or) other foreign states" will be discussed on April 16 at a special session of the State Duma Council, with all factions participating.

"We will then discuss it at the next State Duma meeting," Volodin noted.

"In the process of multiple discussions of unfriendly actions against our country we spoke of the need to respond to the US’ rude behavior and the hampering of the operation of Russian businesses," the speaker added.

The federal bill grants the Russian government the authority to take some economic and political measures.

The draft bill

The draft bill on Russia’s response to hostile US policy, submitted to the State Duma, spells out the coming restrictions on alcohol, tobacco and agricultural imports, First Vice Chairman of the State Duma Ivan Melnikov told reporters.

"It implies a ban or restriction of the import of agricultural products, raw materials and food products originating in the United States or other countries that supported the measures that the United States imposed on our country," he said.

"It concerns alcohol and tobacco products," Melnikov specified.

US citizens employment ban

The draft provides for the ban or restriction on employment of US citizens in Russia, including highly trained professionals.

The text of the bill, obtained by TASS, contains a provision on "the prohibition or restriction on attracting citizens of the United States and (or) other foreign states, including highly skilled specialists, to work in Russia."

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