Perpetrators of Western sanctions in Russia should be held criminally liable - United Russia's Turchak

MOSCOW. March 14 (Interfax) - Amendments introducing criminal liability are being prepared for those who are carrying out Western sanctions against Russia, United Russia General Council Secretary Andrei Turchak said.

"We propose introducing strict, including criminal, liability for such entities, their heads for complying with and implementing Western sanctions," Turchak was quoted as saying by the party's press service on Monday.

Turchak believes that "instances of complying with foreign sanctions in the country are indirect evidence of their support."

"Amid Western sanctions' hysteria, there are cases where Russian companies, including companies with state participation, refuse to work with sanctioned banks and enterprises under the pretext that they themselves risk being hit by sanctions," Turchak said.

This is "actually direct complicity in the deterioration of the economic situation," Turchak said.

"United Russia will draft relevant amendments in the near future," the politician said.