MOSCOW, March 19. /ITAR-TASS/. Sanctions against Russian officials imposed by the US and the European Union were the “‘black lists’ of extra-legal repressions and legal disgrace”, Russian senator Alexei Alexandrov said on Wednesday.

First deputy chairman of the upper house’s committee for constitutional legislation, legal issues and civil society said these moves were against international law and principles of democratic statehood. Such ‘black lists’ had been used “by the darkest forces in the world history”, he said.

More than 20 years ago, Russia was attracted to the world community “not just by market economy, but rather by principles of democratic statehood”, he said. “And all of a sudden we are seeing such anti-legal, incomprehensible and immoral things”, he added. “I would not have done that in place of our partners,” the parliamentarian said.

Earlier, the United States and the European Union published a “black list” of Russian and Ukrainian officials subject to visa bans and asset freeze.

The black list composed by the USA includes presidential aide Vladislav Surkov, presidential advisor Sergei Glazyev, head of the parliament committee for CIS affairs Leonid Slutsky, Federation Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, chairman of the parliament committee for family, women and children Yelena Mizulina, Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov, State Council speaker Vladimir Konstantinov, leader of the Ukrainian Choice public movement Viktor Medvedchuk and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

The EU black list has 21 names, including 13 Russian citizens. Among the Russians are head of the Federation Council (FC) committee on defense Viktor Ozerov, first deputy chairman of the FC committee on international affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov, A Just Russia leader Sergei Mironov, deputy speaker of the State Duma Sergei Zheleznyak, head of the parliament committee on CIS affairs Leonid Slutsky, Black Sea Fleet commander Vice-Admiral Alexander Vitko, head of the Western Military District Anatoly Sidorov and commander of the Southern Military District Alexander Galkin.

The persons blacklisted by the EU are banned from entering the EU territory for six months. The EU will also freeze their bank accounts if such are found in EU banks.

The European Council believes that these officials are personally responsible for the actions undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity.