WASHINGTON: The United States and the European Union (EU) have imposed sanctions against Russian and the Ukrainian officials after Crimea declared its independence following a referendum in which Crimean population overwhelmingly voted in favor of joining the Russian Federation.
The White House said that US President Barack Obama has ordered that sanctions be applied against 11 Russian and Ukrainian officials.
The actions and policies” of the Russian government with respect to Ukraine “undermine democratic processes and institutions in Ukraine; threaten its peace, security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; and contribute to the misappropriation of its assets,” the White House said.
Obama’s executive order applies to seven top Russian officials, including presidential aide Vladislav Surkov, presidential adviser Sergey Glazyev, State Duma deputy Leonid Slutsky, member of the upper chamber of the Russian parliament (the Federation Council) Andrey Klishas, head of the upper chamber of the Russian parliament Valentina Matvienko, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin and State Duma deputy Yelena Mizulina.
In addition, the US Treasury has imposed sanctions on four Ukrainian individuals “for their actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine and in undermining the Government of Ukraine” including the ousted President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich, Crimean top officials Sergey Aksyonov and Vladimir Konstantinov, and former Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Viktor Medvedchuk.
The EU foreign ministers in Brussels also earlier imposed sanctions against 21 Russian and the Ukrainian officials, accusing them of being responsible for referendum on Crimea’s independence from Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, Crimea declared independence from Ukraine and formally applied to join Russia, following Sunday’s referendum in which 96.77 percent of the Crimean population voted in favour of joining Russia.
“The Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea… declares Crimea an independent sovereign state – the Republic of Crimea,” read the decree passed by the Crimean Supreme Council.
“The Republic of Crimea… applies to the Russian Federation to accept the Republic of Crimea as a member of the Russian Federation,” it added.
The decree also urged the international community to respect Crimea’s decision.
“The Republic of Crimea appeals to the United Nations and to all countries of the world to recognize it as an independent state,” the decree read.
