G7 damaging system of int'l law by declaring possible expansion of anti-Russian sanctions - Ryabkov
MOSCOW. April 24 (Interfax) - The possibility of expanding anti-Russian sanctions, which has been declared by the G7 member countries over the Ukraine situation, is damaging the system of international law, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters in Moscow on Tuesday.
"Please note that unilateral sanctions imposed on Russia by the group of states are illegal and contravene international law," Ryabkov said.
"These countries have been breaching fundamental principles of international law almost every week, without feeling ashamed or stopping at rough methods," he said.
"By the way, the threat to use force is also a breach of principles of international law, and the UN Charter defines sanctions as a use of force. So, every time they make their arrogant statements, release their texts, we will be reminding them that they are damaging the system they are urging others to function within," Ryabkov said.
Statements of the kind "are not a double standard, they are actually a new standard of the G7. We will be fighting this standard, as Russia has a standard of its own," he said.