European Union has widened its sanctions list in relation to Ukraine, adding 11 more people allegedly in connection with the crisis in eastern Ukraine.
On Saturday, the EU imposed sanctions on the prime minister of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic, Alexander Borodai, and his counterpart in Lugansk, Marat Bashirov.
“[Borodai was] responsible for the separatist 'governmental' activities of the so-called 'government of the Donetsk People's Republic',” the EU said.
The measure includes asset freezes and travel bans, bringing the total number of people affected by the EU sanctions to 72.
Russia has already condemned the move, saying the measure will damage its relations with the 28-nation bloc.
Meanwhile, EU governments stopped short of applying further sanctions on Russian businesses in order not to provoke their main energy supplier.
Since the start of the crisis in Ukraine last year, the United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions on numerous Russian diplomats.
Washington and Brussels accuse Moscow of fueling the crisis in Ukraine; Russia, however, rejects the claim.
The EU has already imposed sanctions against a number of Crimean and pro-Russia figures as well. The restrictions were imposed after a decision by Ukraine’s then autonomous region of Crimea to re-join the Russian Federation in March.
Ukraine’s mainly Russian-speaking eastern regions have been the scene of deadly clashes between pro-Russia forces and the Ukrainian army since the government in Kiev launched military operations in mid-April in a bid to crush the protests there.
Hundreds of people have been killed in the ongoing military campaign in Ukraine, which has also forced tens of thousands to escape to Russia.
GMA/AB/SS
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/07/12/370980/eu-expands-bans-over-ukraine-crisis/