MOSCOW. Feb 20 (Interfax) - Western nations should harshly assess the sanctions imposed on Viktor Medvedchuk, leader of Ukrainian political party Opposition Platform - For Life, in Ukraine, Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said.
"The events that have taken place in Ukraine in February constitute a major challenge to democracy. Such actions require instant condemnation by all countries that believe it is necessary to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens," the State Duma press service quoted Volodin as saying on Friday.
"Or else, everything earlier achieved in this area will be nullified, and confidence in all institutions of the Council of Europe and the Western politicians who deem themselves defenders of democratic values will be undermined," he said.
"Given the rhetoric of the United States and European countries, they should cut trade and economic relations with this country that is trampling upon the rights and freedoms of citizens. Everyone will view this as a measure aimed at putting a stop to arbitrary actions," Volodin said.
"The Kyiv authorities started with shutting down opposition television channels and ended with imposing sanctions on the leader of an opposition parliamentary party," he said.
"This is an unimaginable thing for a country that aspires to democracy and has declared a desire to enter the European Union. But we're living in a time of double standards. So, there are no statements from either the European Parliament or heads of state, foreign ministers, or the U.S. Department of State, although they usually make statements on much less significant subjects," Volodin said.
The Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) decided on Friday to impose sanctions on Medvedchuk and his wife Oksana Marchenko on counts of the financing of terrorism, NSDC Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said at a press briefing.