Vyacheslav Volodin: those who initiated sanctions should leave politics

Chairman of the State Duma stressed that foreign parliaments should assess actions of those politicians who supported sanctions policy. He also called on members of the State Duma to convey to the parliaments of NATO member states their position on the inadmissibility of Washington's aggressive policy
First plenary meeting of the spring plenary session 2022

That was mentioned by the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin Volodin Vyacheslav Victorovich Volodin
Vyacheslav Victorovich
The Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the eighth convocation. Elected in single mandate constituency № 163 (Saratov constituency - Saratov Oblast)
in his speech at the opening of the spring plenary session.

He recalled that “at first, sanctions forced us to start import substitution, and now there are complaints: why are you doing that? They have counted their losses. They suffered huge losses. They understood how it has affected their economies,” said Vyacheslav Volodin.

“Russia has overcome the challenges and become stronger,” stressed the Chairman of the State Duma.

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“We should be clear in our dialogue with national parliaments and we should say that those who initiated sanctions, undermining international requirements, the requirements of the World Trade Organization, and introducing draconian measures that absolutely do not help to develop relations between states, those politicians should leave politics,” Vyacheslav Volodin stressed.

He called on representatives of foreign parliaments to assess actions of those politicians who imposed sanctions.

Response to Washington's policy

The Chairman of the State Duma added that “it would be right to convey our point of view to the parliaments of NATO member states and propose to stop using the rhetoric of sanctions and intimidation of Russia.”

Vyacheslav Volodin recalled that the Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2021 proposed to discuss global security issues with the permanent members of the UN Security Council. According to him, consistently pursuing a policy aimed at ensuring peace and stability, the head of state raised the issue of guaranteeing Russia's security with the leadership of the United States of America and NATO.

“There were concrete proposals made to Washington, aimed at protecting our citizens and European countries from explosive threats and unpredictable developments. But as you can see, there is still no answer from Washington,” said the Chairman of the State Duma.

According to him, Russia continues to insist on legal guarantees for non-expansion of NATO further eastward, non-deployment of strike weapons near Russian borders, as well as for withdrawal of NATO forces to positions occupied in 1997, when the Russia-NATO Founding Act was signed.

“I want to emphasize once again that the decision is left to Washington. The US aggressive actions on close proximity to Russian borders and ignoring our “red lines” make the Russian Federation to demand the conclusion of new binding agreements,” said Vyacheslav Volodin.

He urged the members of the State Duma to support initiatives of the President of the Russian Federation “aimed at ensuring security not only of our state, but also of the European countries and the whole world security.”

“Our country is always ready to respond,” stressed the Chairman of the State Duma.

“Washington should revisit its foreign policy doctrine and stop threatening. It would only complicate the relations. Russia's development cannot be halted,” he said.