Russia calls for Western sanctions on Syria to be lifted

Russia’s special envoy to the Middle East and Africa, Mikhail Bogdanov, has stressed the need to lift the unilateral sanctions imposed by the West on Syria, Anadolu Agency has reported.

Speaking to journalists in Moscow on Thursday, Bogdanov said that Western countries continue to impose unilateral sanctions on Syria. He reaffirmed Russia’s consistent opposition to such measures, and added that the restrictions imposed on Syria are not based on international law and have not been approved by the UN Security Council.

The envoy pointed out that the sanctions have harmed all sectors in Syria. “After the fundamental changes and the removal of the Assad regime there, continuing sanctions pressure on Damascus has lost any sense,” noted Bogdanov, according to TASS news agency.

“Under the current circumstances,” he added, “it is necessary to abandon confrontational and politicised approaches to the Syrian crisis and consolidate international efforts to provide effective assistance to the Syrian people while promoting the country’s post-crisis reconstruction. We support the lifting of unilateral sanctions, which hinder the achievement of this goal.”

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