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Russian Economy Prepared For Possible New Sanctions From G7 Nations – Lawmaker

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia and its economy have been prepared for possible new restrictions from the Group of Seven (G7) countries, and will hardly suffer any losses, the first deputy head of the Russian upper house international committee, Vladimir Dzhabarov, told Sputnik.
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"Russia and our economy have long been prepared for new sanctions, for everything. I do not think that we will suffer losses," Dzhabarov said.

The lawmaker called the G7 policy on sanctions "inertial," pointing that the group itself, not Russia, was contributing to the destabilization in the world.

"They accuse us of destabilization. However, if it were not for Russia and its fight against IS [the Islamic State terrorist group, outlawed in Russia], the situation would have collapsed. The destabilization is being created by the G7 itself," Dzhabarov argued.

On Saturday, the G7 leaders adopted a joint communique following the two-day summit in Quebec, which also touched upon their policy toward Russia. The nations urged Moscow to "cease its destabilizing behavior to undermine democratic systems and its support of the Syrian regime," and threatened Russia with further restrictive measures. The document also supported the UK accusations against Moscow of the nerve agent attack in the town of Salisbury.

READ MORE: Summit's Final Communique: G7 or G6 and Trump?

US Representatives Told by Trump to Not Endorse G7 'False Statements' Communique
In March, the United Kingdom accused Russia of an attack on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with what UK experts claimed was the A234 nerve agent in Salisbury. Over a hundred Russian diplomats have since been expelled from Western countries as a sign of solidarity with London. Russian authorities have strongly refuted the allegations as groundless.

Since 2014, relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated amid the crisis in Ukraine. The United States, the European Union and some of their allies have introduced several rounds of anti-Moscow sanctions after Crimea's reunification with Russia and the latter's alleged involvement in the Ukraine conflict.

Russia has refuted all the accusations and taken retaliatory economic restrictions.

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