Greek Syriza Party Says EU Anti-Russian Sanctions Damage European Stability

ATHENS, January 19 (Sputnik) — European Union sanctions against Russia are causing substantial damage to peace and stability throughout Europe, Panayiotis Lafazanis, one of the leaders of the Greek left-wing coalition Syriza told RIA Novosti on Monday.

“The European Union’s policy of sanctions against Russia is a very bad policy. This policy causes significant damage to the Russia-European relations, damaging peace and stability throughout Europe. We do not agree with the imposition of sanctions against Russia,” Lafazanis said, stressing that Syriza wants “good relations with Russia.”

According to Lafazanis, a leftist government, should it come to power in Greece after the elections, will try to improve ties with Russia.

“Absolutely nothing is dividing the people of Greece and the people of Russia. Greece and Russia have no problems that divide us. Good connections is the only way for the two nations and two states and improving the bilateral ties would help Greece, Russia and most certainly the whole Europe, the European Union as a whole,” Lafazanis said.

Following Crimea’s reunification with Russia, the European Union imposed several rounds of sanctions against Moscow. In August, Russia responded by introducing a one-year ban on imports of a number of food products from countries that imposed sanctions against it.

Originally found as a coalition of left-wing and radical left political parties, the eurosceptic Syriza is Greece's second-largest party. Polls suggest that Syriza is most likely to win the country's snap parliamentary elections Sunday.