MOSCOW, February 20. /TASS/. The Ukrainian government’s measures targeting members of the country’s opposition, including the latest sanctions imposed on a leader of the Opposition Platform - For Life party, must be condemned by all countries that defend human rights, State Duma (lower chamber of Russia’s parliament) Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said.
On Friday, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine imposed sanctions on opposition lawmaker Viktor Medvedchuk, the leader of the opposition party’s Political Council, his wife, as well as eight other individuals and 19 legal entities. The sanctions are imposed on all their property, and those assets cannot be managed or alienated while the restrictions are in place.
"Having begun by closing opposition TV channels, the Kiev government ended up imposing sanctions on a leader of an opposition party, present in the country’s parliament. It is impossible to imagine this in a country that styles itself as a democratic one and declares its desire to join the European Union," Volodin was quoted as saying by the State Duma’s press service.
"However, we are living in times of double standards, that is why there have been no statements from the European parliament, from heads of states, from ministers of foreign affairs, from the US Department of State, although normally they make their statements on less important issues," he confinued.
According to the Russian lawmaker, "the events that are taking place in Ukraine in February will become a serious challenge for democracy."
"Such actions must be immediately condemned by all countries who think that fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens must be protected," Volodin added. "Otherwise, this will cross out all achievements in those areas, undermine trust to all institutions of the Council of Europe, to all Western politicians who consider themselves defenders of democratic values."
"If we follow the logic of US and European rhetoric, it would be right for them to stop trade and economic relations with the country that tramples upon rights and freedoms of its citizens," he said. "Everyone will perceive this as a measure intended to stop lawlessness."
Late on February 2, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky authorized the National Security Council’s sanctions imposed on the country’s 112 Ukraine TV channel and its regional subsidiaries (Novy Format, Ariadna TV, TV Vybor, PartnerTV and Leader TV), as well as on the NewsOne TV and ZIK channels. The sanctions will be in effect for five years. Those measures envisage "annulling or suspending licenses and other permissions," as well as the ban to use Ukrainian TV and radio frequencies. Their assets will be blocked, and their economic and financial liabilities will be frozen. The management will not be allowed to transfer financial assets to foreign countries, engage in transactions with securities and open accounts in foreign banks.
Besides, Personal sanctions were imposed on Taras Kozak, a lawmaker representing the Opposition Platform - For Life party, who owns 112 Ukraine, NewsOne and ZIK via Ukraine's Mediaholding Novini.