Crimea: milestone of US-Russian dialog

Two years ago Russia annexed Crimea after the referendum taken place on the 16^th March 2014 during the most tragic historical moment for Ukrainians. Today US government maintains its readiness to keep sanctions against Russia until Kremlin returns Crimea to Ukraine. The situation of freedom of speech and prosecution of ethnic and religious minorities in Crimea is disturbing. One hundred countries supported the UN Resolution qualifying the results of Crimean referendum as illegitimate.

Of two evils choose the lesser

Everyone knows the usefulness of “carrot and stick” politics. However, sometimes neither carrot nor stick brings visible results. On the 15^th February Belarusian government got a carrot one more time. After the 4 moths suspension the European Union has lift sanctions against 170 Belarusian individuals including the president, A. Lukashenko, permanently. What was the reason of such a weighty decision? Human rights are still abused. There was no transparency during the presidential elections. Belarusian opposition insists on the sanction maintenance. But the real answer is somewhere else. It is in Russia.

Russia: unwillingness of taking responsibility

Tools of democracy are hardly present in Russia. Now it is not left for Russia in Strasbourg, either. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has suspended the right to vote, to participate in the session of the authorized organs and in the monitoring missions for the Russian delegation starting early 2015. Russian politicians boil over from perturbation. International condemnation for its actions in Eastern Ukraine and related sanctions has led to Russia refusing to confirm the presence of its delegation in the following session of PACE. It will allow to avoid further sanctions and public shame.

Tomatoes issue

    It seems like Russian government is more concerned, how to prevent Turkish tomatoes coming to the Russian market, than to bring the light to covered in darkness in winter time Crimea, annexed by Russia in March 2014.  On the 28^th of November President V. Putin approved sanctions against Turkey: it concerns food, flights between Russia and Turkey, however not manufactured products. From the 1^st of January the non-visa regime between two countries will be stopped. How fragile a friendship can be.

Russia refuses Turkish resorts but not the money for gas

    Current tension between Turkey and Russia over shot plane, violated Turkish air-space, grows everyday.  This was not only a warning signal to V. Putin - “do not mess up with Turkey”, it was a signal for the whole region. It seems like no one but Russians will pay for the boldness of Turkish government. Russia scares Turkey by the economical revenge, however it is knows that similar food embargo against the European Union impacted rise of the prices on the food products in Russia, not bringing much damage for the EU. While Russia considers how to punish rebellious „ex-friend”, Russians are restricted to take holidays in Turkey. Goodbye, Turkish food, resorts, small-medium business with Turkey! However, there was no word about cutting gas supply from Russia to Turkey. Well, Russian government won’t do anything that might hurt particular pockets.