MOSCOW, October 20 (RIA Novosti) - The United States and a number of European countries are trying to reduce the possibility of dialogue with Russia by imposing targeted sanctions against Russian citizens, the Speaker of the lower house of Russian parliament, Sergei Naryshkin, said Monday.
"One cannot help but wonder why the governments of the US and some European countries are so persistent in imposing sanctions against certain politicians and entrepreneurs – so-called personal sanctions. Apparently, they are seeking to reduce the possibility of a dialogue with Russia," Naryshkin said at the meeting at the Foreign Ministry devoted to the discussion of the Cuban missile crisis.
"Is it not the reason why even our scientists are being banned [from entering these countries]? As it has happened recently with our colleague – member of the Academy of Sciences Valery Tishkov," Naryshkin added.
The State Duma Speaker also reminded that it was only by the mutual concessions of all parties that the Cuban missile crisis was reconciled 52 years ago.
Over the past few months, the United States has introduced several rounds of economic sanctions against Russia over its alleged involvement in the Ukrainian crisis, which has been repeatedly denied by Russia, with its allies including the European Union later following the move and drawing up their own blacklists.
Dozens of individuals have been targeted by the sanctions, freezing their assets, denying their access to the countries and banning the activities of the companies that these individuals are associated with.
In August, in response to western sanctions, Moscow implemented a one-year ban on certain food imports from the European Union, the United States, Australia, Canada and Norway.
