Australian sanctions on Russia are absurd - Matviyenko
MOSCOW. June 19 (Interfax) - Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko has called the imposition of sanctions on Russia by the Australian authorities "a theater of the absurd."
"It's just some theater of the absurd, some distorting mirror,' Matviyenko, who is on the Australian sanctions list along with the U.S. and EU sanctions lists, told reporters on Thursday.
Matviyenko said she is surprised by the fact that the people who have brought Ukraine to a civil war and a humanitarian catastrophe are not on any sanctions lists.
"The names of those who started all this are known. Russia is fighting for a peaceful solution to this political crisis and is lending its economic shoulder to Ukraine and is not involved in this conflict in any way. But they keep threatening us, wielding a political club and are imposing some sanctions. These sanctions are making us smile, if not laugh. Australia is a long way from Russia and Ukraine," Matviyenko said.
Andrei Klishas, who is also on the Australian sanctions list, said he finds this list funny.
"The imposition of sanctions by Australia is funny in itself. Apparently, Australia has decided to remind everyone of itself and remind that it belongs to the world that it considers civilized," Klishas said.
Klishas said Australia's colonial past is making this country express solidarity with some Western countries. "Such statements made about some Russian citizens are a duty to their current partners," he said.
The Australian authorities imposed sanctions on fifty people and 11 companies over the crisis in Ukraine, the country's Foreign Ministry has reported on its website.