Top electoral official of "Donetsk People's Republic" says EU sanctions pose no threat to him
MOSCOW. May 13 (Interfax) - The head of the Central Election Commission of the "Donetsk People's Republic", Roman Lyagin, has said he is perplexed by the latest sanctions introduced by the European Union in response to the situation in Ukraine, adding that these sanctions do not pose any threat to him.
"I am perplexed by the European Union's additional sanctions list. I deeply regret it," Lyagin told Interfax over the phone on Tuesday.
"Such an assessment on my part stems from the fact that we have done nothing wrong. The referendum held in the Donetsk region was aimed at stopping the escalation of violence and transferring this problem to a humanitarian dimension," he said.
"I believe that the sanctions introduced by the European Union are inadequate and groundless," Lyagin said.
"As far as I am concerned, these EU sanctions do not pose any threat. I am unmoved by them," he said.
When asked whether he has any bank accounts or assets in EU countries that may suffer as a result of these sanctions, Lyagin said: "I will cope with my problems, and my life will not change in any way."
The Official Journal of the European Union published on Monday the extended list of 13 persons and two legal entities subject to targeted sanctions against Russia over the Ukrainian crisis. They include Lyagin, who is one of the organizers of the May 11 referendum in the Donetsk region.
