AmCham head says sanctions against bank deals, debt unlikely

MOSCOW, Nov 16 (PRIME) -- The U.S. is unlikely to introduce sanctions against the U.S. dollar transactions of state banks and servicing of Russia’s state debt, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia (AmCham) Alexis Rodzianko told PRIME on Friday.

“My private opinion is that it is very unlikely,” he said, adding that this kind of restrictions would hurt everyone.

A draft law on a second wave of sanctions over the Skripal case against the Russian state debt and state-run banks was submitted to the U.S. Congress in August. The bill includes a blacklist of Russian state officials and businessmen. Media reported later that the measures can be approved only in 2019.

Rodzianko also said that a second wave of sanctions concerning the Skripal case will not improve the situation but will make it clearer. “Now we are in a complete situation of expecting the unknown; people must bear in mind every scenario in their plans… in particular, options which are on paper, which can become a law.”

In March, British Prime Minister Theresa May said it was highly likely that Moscow was responsible for the murder attempt of former officer of the Main Intelligence Directorate Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Later in March, the U.S. introduced a first wave of the sanctions against Russia.

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