Medvedev has proposed to expand to new countries kontrsanktsii – RBC

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev

Photo: TASS

The government will address the question of expansion of the list of countries subject to Russian kontrsanktsii. With appropriate instruction to the Cabinet asked Dmitry Medvedev, reports Tass.

It is about seven countries, who last week joined the sanctions against Russia and the Crimea.

«We need to work on this issue and if indeed such decisions taken [decision to join the sanctions], then prepare an appeal to the President to supplement the decree additional countries that such decisions in respect of the Russian Federation support, “- Medvedev said.

In addition, the Prime Minister said that he intends to personally head a commission created by the government on import substitution, whose main objective is “to create conditions for domestic production of those products that we previously received on imports.” In it, according to Medvedev, will be formed two subcommittees – civil and defense industry. “The work of the entire Commission, I personally will lead”, – he said.

Last week, Ukraine, Georgia, as well as candidate countries for EU membership Montenegro and Albania, the countries of the European Free Trade Association countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway joined the EU sanctions against the Crimea. These same countries, except Georgia, supported the anti-Russian sanctions that following the extension of the Council of Europe will be in effect until January 31, 2016.

The Kremlin said that they could impose on these countries restrictive measures. “Of course, it can. Once again, we reiterate that the fundamental is the principle of reciprocity, “- he said the president’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov.

The instrument of accession of Georgia to the sanctions against the Crimea, published on the website of the EU, has caused ambiguous interpretation. Shortly after the news has spread, the special representative of the Georgian President on relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze said that from Tbilisi no new decisions on sanctions against the Crimea and Sevastopol was not accepted. According to him, it is not about full accession to the sanctions and the extension of the document of 23 June last year, which said a ban on the import into the EU, as well as in some other countries, including Georgia, the products manufactured in the Crimea and Sevastopol.