Switzerland blacklists influential Russians in line with EU sanctionsAugust 5, 2014 - 18:21 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Switzerland is blacklisting dozens of influential Russians and pro-Russian individuals in Ukraine in line with EU sanctions, BBC News reports. The sanctions target Russians and pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine accused of undermining Ukraine's sovereignty. The Swiss are barring those listed from doing new deals with Swiss partners. But their assets will not be frozen. The number of individuals targeted is now 87 - most of them linked directly to the conflict in Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the Swiss government says. Switzerland is also targeting 20 organizations. The EU-U.S. sanctions include some top officials and businessmen in President Vladimir Putin's entourage. Switzerland is a popular destination for Russia's business elite and the country is in the Schengen passport-free zone, so the new selective EU travel restrictions will also apply to Switzerland. However, Switzerland has avoided issuing its own sanctions list - so the Swiss measures are not quite as tough as the EU-US ones. A member of the Swiss Federal Council (cabinet), Johann Schneider-Ammann, said: "Switzerland is adopting the EU measures but not one-by-one; the goal is to prevent any bypassing of the sanctions happening. "The measures affecting an individual's freedom to travel apply directly in Switzerland, nevertheless, because Switzerland is a member of the Schengen zone," the Swiss Tagesanzeiger website quoted him as saying. However, Swiss neutrality would be compromised if Switzerland were simply to copy the EU sanctions, he argued. Switzerland currently chairs the OSCE international security organization, which is trying to mediate in the Ukraine conflict. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |