Tuscany Regional Council Approves Lifting Anti-Russian Sanctions Resolution

ROME (Sputnik) — All 33 out of 33 council members present at the time of the voting supported the resolution, including representatives of the Democratic Party which holds the majority of seats.

The resolution, adopted in Tuscany, differs from similar documents earlier adopted in other Italian northern regions, including Veneto, Liguria and Lombardy, despite the fact that they are all devoted to the EU-Russia relations and the issue of anti-Russia sanctions. On Tuesday, Lombardy adopted a resolution calling to condemn the EU policy on the issue of Crimea's reunification with Russia and lift the anti-Russia sanctions.

The Tuscany resolution does not touch upon the Crimea issue. The draft project of the document reads that in case of its adoption, the regional government will activate the work with the Italian authorities in order to take any initiative which will help to overcome the issue of anti-Russian sanctions.

According to Manuel Vescovi, the adviser group head of the Lega Nord party, the resolution aims to push the Italian authorities to activate the work on removing anti-Russian sanctions that have resulted in losses for the Italian companies.

In 2014, relations between Russia and the West deteriorated amid the crisis in Ukraine. Brussels, Washington and their allies have introduced several rounds of anti-Russia sanctions since the reunification of Crimea with Russia, accusing Moscow of annexing the region and meddling in the Ukrainian conflict. The sanctions target individuals and companies in different sectors of the Russian economy, including defense, financial and energy sectors.

Russia has repeatedly refuted the allegations about the Ukraine conflict involvement, warning that the Western sanctions are counterproductive and undermine global stability. In response to the restrictive measures, Russia has imposed a food embargo on some products originating in countries that have targeted it with sanctions.