STRASBOURG, 15 Sep. The proposal to impose sanctions against European citizens for participating in the observation of parliamentary elections in Crimea is a striking lack of tolerance, MEP Thierry Mariani told RIA Novosti. Earlier, a source in the EP told RIA Novosti that MEP from Lithuania Petras Austrevicius introduced an amendment to the draft report on Russia-EU relations, in which he proposes, in particular, to punish those who intend to participate in observing the parliamentary elections in Crimea with sanctions. At the same time, there is no mention of sanctions in the original text of the draft.
Lavrov accused the West of trying to influence the elections in Russia «To impose sanctions against all deputies, including national parliaments, who head for the Russian elections is an amazing lack of tolerance. I am now in Russia, but I do not represent the European Parliament here. As free man, I have the right to do that, «he said. The report on the strategy of EU relations with Russia was prepared by the former Prime Minister of Lithuania Andrius Kubilius. The political groups represented in the European Parliament, before the start of the plenary session, preliminarily agreed on it, on September 15 a vote on this report will take place, 16 will announce its results. The reports of the European Parliament are not binding, they are a recommendation for the European Commission, the EU Council, the foreign policy service of the union and member states. This voluminous document, which MEPs themselves call «tough» potential to «contain» the Russian Federation, develop a strategy to minimize the EU's dependence on Russian energy resources and metal supplies, and prepare for non-recognition of the results of the parliamentary elections in Russia in the event that they «are recognized as dishonest and held in violation of democratic principles.»
The State Duma called the threat of Kiev not to recognize the elections because of the Crimea ridiculous
