UPDATE: Russia prepares asymmetric retaliation to sanctions

(Updates headline, paragraph 1, adds paragraph 2)

ZURICH/MOSCOW, Mar 1 (PRIME) – Russia is preparing an asymmetric response to the sanctions imposed on the country, and plans to publish a support package for local businesses and citizens, Andrei Turchak, secretary of the General Council of the United Russia ruling party, told reporters on Tuesday.

“Our response to sanctions has always been symmetric, but now the answer will be asymmetric. We plan to present support a package of support measures for the people and business under the sanctions in a few coming days,” he said.

A Russian embassy spokesperson in Bern told PRIME that Moscow would not leave without response Switzerland’s support of the illegitimate practice of unilateral anti-Russian sanctions.

On Monday, Swiss President Ignazio Cassis said that the country had joined all the sanctions that the E.U. imposed on Russia over its military operation in Ukraine.

“The Swiss Confederation has decided to support the illegitimate E.U. practice of imposition of unilateral restrictions on Russia. Instead of an unbiased analysis of the reasons that caused Russia to start the operation to ensure its security and protect the citizens of the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics, … the Swiss Confederation solidarized with the policy of the E.U.,” the spokesperson said.

The sanction pressure cannot destroy Russia’s will to stand for its security interests, and Moscow will impose retaliatory measures using the basic principle of the international law – the principle of mutuality. The country is currently working on the list of measures, the spokesperson added.

End %%md/jst%%