The approximately 500 new sanctions against Russia announced by the United States on Friday are aimed at discord among Russian citizens ahead of the March presidential election, Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov said, Russian news agency TASS reported.

Anatoly Antonov, Ambassador of Russia to the USAPhoto: Sergey Bobylev / TASS / Profimedia Images

“The new restrictions are a new shameless and cynical attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of Russia, to force us to abandon our vital interests, to split Russian society before (…) the presidential elections,” the diplomat said, TASS reports. , provided by AFP and Agerpres.

His statements were also recorded by the Reuters agency, which owns the Russian press agency RIA.

Reuters notes that Russian organizations under sanctions include:

  • National card payment system, which operates the “Mir” payment system;
  • SPB Bank;
  • gold producer Uzhuralzoloto;
  • pipe manufacturer TMK and steel manufacturer Mekel.

The National Card System responded by saying that the sanctions will not affect transactions within the country.

The US also imposed sanctions against the manufacturer of Aurus limousines. On Thursday, the Kremlin announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had gifted such a luxury car to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Read also:

  • Biden unveiled an arsenal of sanctions to make “Putin pay an even bigger price”
  • Washington will introduce sanctions against more than 500 organizations associated with the Russian military machine
  • Moscow announced “counter-sanctions” against some European officials / They will not be allowed to Russia

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