Deputy suggests countersanction against Coca-Cola, Mars, P&G

MOSCOW, Aug 8 (PRIME) -- Russia needs to prepare a sophisticated reply to new sanctions including withdrawal of the country’s funds from the U.S. treasuries, retaliatory sanctions against FMCG firms such as Coca-Cola, Mars or Procter & Gamble and stop alcohol imports from some states, head of Fair Russia political party Sergei Mironov said on Tuesday.

“A la guerre comme a la guerre. And in Russia’s case, each aggressor must understand that the stronger it beats the stronger counterblow it gets. What should we reply with? The first thing is to withdraw our FX funds from the U.S. treasuries,” Mironov said adding there is no economic reason to “develop not domestic, but an oversea economy.”

Additionally, the deputy proposes expansion of import substitution initiatives using counter-sanctions, imposed on foreign mass-market companies.

“Our stores are full of foreign brands. Why do we need here in Russia food stuffed with unknown ingredients made by PepsiCo, Cola-Cola, or Mars? Domestic makers of non-alcoholic beverages, dairy products, snacks and confectionery will fill Russia’s market with their quality products,” he said.

The politician is sure that “Russian companies will satisfy consumer demand easily if we block access for cosmetics and household goods of Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson.”

Mironov also said that the country needs to get rid of alcoholic drinks produced in the states, which participate in anti-Russian sanctions, and all state companies should replace Microsoft software with open-coded Linux.

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