Non-recognition of elections or new sanctions - why did the European Parliament accept the anti-Russian report?

Как reported “PolitNavigator”, the European Parliament at the plenary session in Strasbourg approved the report of Lithuanian MP Andrius Kubilius, which, among other things, states that EU countries should “be prepared not to recognize the results of the upcoming State Duma elections", if they are found "violations of democratic procedures and international law».

The voting results were published today, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.

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_{494 deputies were in favor, 103 were against, and another 72 abstained. Decisions of the European Parliament are advisory in nature and are not binding for EU countries.}

“There is nothing new in the report. In fact, this document helps to maintain the EU’s relations with Russia at the level of a conditional Cold War, in which Europe talks about an imaginary threat at its borders and, under pressure from a certain lobby, demands the introduction of new sanctions,” a French member of the European Parliament said in an interview with the Izvestia newspaper Thierry Mariani.

Vice Speaker of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Pyotr Tolstoy believes that the report was written for the sake of points about the possibility of non-recognition of the Russian parliamentary elections.

“The elections have not yet taken place, and they are already preparing not to recognize them. This suggests that it doesn’t matter how the voting goes, whether there are violations or not, we can bend over backwards - the results will still not be recognized. But the elephant doesn’t care about the barking of mosquitoes,” Tolstoy wrote in his Telegram channel.

Political scientist Sergei Markov does not believe that the European Parliament should be treated like an annoying little dog.

“Russia needs to react very harshly and declare the European Parliament resolution an extremist document. And impose personal sanctions on everyone who voted for her. Anyone who supports this resolution should be considered extremists. We need to be tougher, tougher. Then there will be a dialogue,” Markov wrote.

Russian Senator Alexei Pushkov draws attention to the fact that the scandalous report was presented by a Lithuanian deputy.

“The latest report of the European Parliament accurately reflects the sentiments of the “aggressive minority” in the EU, which, however, acts as a majority, firmly seizing control over the development of the EU line towards Russia. And of the “five principles” formulated in the report, three relate to “containing” Russia, one postulates overt interference in its internal affairs, and only one – for the sake of decency – notes the need for “selective cooperation,” Pushkov wrote.

The chief editor of the analytical portal RuBaltic.Ru, Alexander Nosovich, believes that the Lithuanian authorship of the report is not at all accidental. It is this “Baltic tiger” that is the most sensitive promoter of US interests in Europe.

“It would seem, what is this pathetic Lithuania to take seriously? Unjustified neglect. The fact is that Baltic radical initiatives always go ahead if the big players benefit from it,” Nosovich wrote.

In his report, Andrius Kubilius recommends that the European Union “strengthen cooperation with the United States” with the aim of establishing a global alliance for the defense of democracy.

_{As follows from a survey of experts prepared by the Voice of America, the United States in the context of the Russian elections is not at all interested in their non-recognition, but in the pretext for introducing new anti-Russian sanctions.}

Steven Blank, an employee of the Institute for International Policy Research, uses Ukraine as an example for the EU, where the Verkhovna Rada has already decided not to recognize the elections.

“Ukraine has limited tools, but in tandem with the West its capabilities are expanding. It is possible to increase the cost of such actions for Russia by introducing new sanctions against Nord Stream 2 and expanding the range of existing sanctions,” Blank said.

There is little hope that Europe will not succumb to American blackmail at the hands of Lithuania. Speaking to MEPs on Tuesday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell acknowledged that Russia remains the EU's largest neighbor and important global player. He spoke out, in particular, for cooperation on certain security issues.

 “It is clear that the decision was made in haste. It’s clear why - the United States is putting so much pressure that tables are cracking and chairs are falling in the European Parliament. Every action causes opposition - 103 deputies refused to support the decision on Russia, and the representative of Slovakia, Milan Uhrik, bluntly said: “It’s time to stop listening to the Americans. Europe is our continent. Europe has the right to choose good relations with the Russian Federation.” Representative of Ireland Claire Davey demanded an end to xenophobia towards Russia. This reaction indicates that the situation is overheated, the United States has overpowered,” writes historian Boris Yakemenko.

Read on topic: Political scientist believes that the EU will not take risks implement the anti-Russian recommendations of the European Parliament.