Russia could add notion of “aggressor country” to legislation

© RIA Novosti

10:39 29/07/2014

MOSCOW, July 29 (RAPSI) – Russia’s parliament will consider adding a new term, “aggressor country,” to legislation to denote countries that impose sanctions against Russia and to prohibit companies registered in these countries and their subsidiaries from working in Russia, Izvestia newspaper writes on Tuesday.

“The government of Russia, which is responsible for protecting the constitutional system, ensuring the country’s defense and security, protecting the domestic market and developing the national economy, will be given the power to approve a list of aggressor countries,” the newspaper writes, citing an explanatory note to the bill.

According to Izvestia, foreign legal entities and private individuals registered in an aggressor country, as well as Russian legal entities affiliated with or dependent upon the abovementioned foreign entities or individuals, would be prohibited from providing audit, legal and other consultancy services in Russia.

The newspaper writes, citing co-author of the bill, Yevgeny Fyodorov, that the government will decide which companies to put on the sanctions list. “At the least, all six large US audit and consultancy companies working in Russia should be put on the list,” Fyodorov said.

The bill will be sent for review to the government and for approval to the State Duma on Tuesday.

The United States has enforced the sixth round of sanctions against Russia over Ukraine. This time, sanctions are spearheaded against entire industries, such as the defense industry, and against large banks and energy companies. Moscow’s position is that these sanctions are counterproductive and illegitimate. It argues that Russia is not a party to the internal Ukrainian conflict.