"Imposing sanctions against a head of state would mean a deadlock in dialogue with Russia. If sanctions are introduced only the Russian Foreign Minister will be able to take part in international talks. Amid the current tensions, preventing the Russian leader from participating in the Syrian negotiations or in the Ukrainian settlement equals paralyzing the peace process," he explained.
According to the lawmaker, such an "absurd" move is nothing but an attempt to emphasize the anti-Russian approach of the European Parliament.
In turn, the Kremlin reacted to the initiative, calling it an attempt to interfere in the court processes which are "underway in strict accordance with the Russian legislature."
According to Mastalka, the European Parliament has realized that the sanctions Brussels has imposed against Russia over Ukraine are not effective and its lawmakers are using the case of Savchenko to voice their anti-Russian stance.
A group of European lawmakers has called for EU chief diplomat Federica Mogherini to impose personal sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin and another 28 individuals over the case of Ukrainian national Nadezhda Savchenko.
The appeal was posted on Twitter by Polish lawmaker Jacek Saryusz-Wolski on March 8.
#Savchenko: European Parliament's Appeal to Hight Representative for Foreign Affairs @FedericaMog (1/2) pic.twitter.com/JsBxblb3Tg
— Jacek Saryusz-Wolski (@JSaryuszWolski) March 8, 2016
"This move is a real scandal," Jiri Mastalka, a Czech lawmaker of the European Parliament, told Sputnik.
