Zyuganov called the sanctions imposed against him a reward

Chairman of the Communist Party Central Committee Gennady Zyuganov. File photoMOSCOW, Feb 12The leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Gennady Zyuganov told RIA Novosti that he regards the sanctions imposed against him as a reward and an assessment of his work in the struggle for peace and friendship between peoples. On Friday, the US authorities imposed sanctions on Zyuganov and 10 other deputies from the Communist Party faction who supported the initiative on the recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. In addition, restrictive measures are being introduced against State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin. «Apparently they appreciated my struggle for peace, for the friendship of peoples in the fight against Nazism, statements on the situation in Ukraine. Therefore, I consider this as a reward, as an assessment. For me, it was the highest law — truth, justice,» Zyuganov stressed. At the same time, the parliamentarian believes that the Americans are «stunned» with the imposition of sanctions against Russia — «they don't know what else to throw away.»Britain imposed sanctions against 386 Russian deputiesRussian President Vladimir Putin on February 21 signed decrees recognizing the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, which had declared independence from Kyiv back in 2014, and on February 24 Russia launched a military operation. The Russian leader called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years.» In an address to fellow citizens, he said that the circumstances «require decisive and immediate action,» since the Donbass republics asked for help. According to Putin, the entire responsibility for the bloodshed will be on the conscience of the ruling regime in Ukraine. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Armed Forces strike only at military infrastructure and Ukrainian troops, nothing threatens the civilian population. With the support of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the DPR and LPR groups are developing an offensive. But there is no question of the occupation of Ukraine, the Russian president emphasized.