"Feels Bad, Man" - President Putin is Ticked Off By American Sanctions List Because He’s Not On It
Overnight into January 30, the US published a list of Russian citizens which in the near future, in a month or months, as they aren’t likely to postpone it for long, will fall under personal US sanctions. At the moment, there are 210 names in it, but the list is open for additions. So far, the presidential administration leadership, the Russian government, the heads of the largest state and private companies are listed.
A few hours later, President Trump, in his annual address to the nation, called Russia, along with China, the main rival of the United States, a threat to the US interests.
It’s obvious that the publication of the list of high-ranking Russians as objects of the forthcoming sanctions is connected with the deliberate deterioration of relations with Russia, and also coincides with the presidential campaign in our country. That’s how they want to interfere in it.
At the same time, this is also a continuation of the US Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act’s line adopted last summer. Russia is listed in it together with Iran and North Korea.
But how sensitive are we about what the Americans are doing? And it’s just as much as we ourselves attach importance to their actions. I’m sure that the presidential administration employees, government members and state corporations heads certainly aren’t suffering in any way. And Putin himself even jokes about the fact that he didn’t personally appear on the "Kremlin list".
That’s how he answered the question of a well-known IT entrepreneur Igor Ashmanov at a meeting with his trustees.
Igor Ashmanov: The list is completely unprecedented, because, in fact, the entire leadership of the country was declared the enemies of America, except you, you're probably off limits. I'll be done soon.
Vladimir Putin: It's a shame, yo.
- Right, I'll talk about that too.
As for the large Russian businessmen from the Forbes list, getting on the American list for them, and also under sanctions in the future, is more like a chance to bring their money back home, to their native harbor. Hence, this is also a chance for Russia. And in this sense, we should even need to thank Americans. For the purity of the relationship. For Putin, the return of capital to Russia is an old topic. He isn’t exaggerating here and he isn’t threatening anyone, but carefully explains that it’s not so safe for the money to be outside of Russia, which was taken out of it.
For example, that’s how the President warned businessmen in 2002. Those words said at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia meeting already became a popular meme.
Vladimir Putin: "There's every reason to believe that the use of funds located in offshore zones will be toughened. I'm not saying that tomorrow they’ll be frozen, but if decisions of this kind with different variations are adopted, I apologize for the simplicity of my expression, you’ll get tired of swallowing dust while running around the courts in an attempt to unfreeze these funds".
Apparently, such a moment of different funds freezing variations is now approaching, and Putin continues to politely explain. On Tuesday, he came back to the subject at a meeting with his trustees, where they talked about the American list and about how to treat it.
Vladimir Putin: "What do I want to say in general on the subject, not on this list, but on this subject? We need, most of all, to think about ourselves. We need to deal with our economy, agriculture. We need to engage in export support, health care, education. And then, in the end, and defense, of course, we’ll come to the realization that there’s no point in formulating any lists, threatening, frightening or trying to restrain our development. This is the most important thing that we need to do in accordance with the well-known rule: "the dogs bark, but the caravan moves on".
And about big business, he talks softly and almost affectionately again. About those who’re there and who have everything there.
Vladimir Putin: "As for those who’re in California or London, what do people say? We should bring everything home. There's nothing to do in California. Come home".
It’s all clear with the US, but after all, Russia itself should also take care of bringing back large sums of money earned here. Putin already announced an amnesty for capital this year, and a package of three bills was submitted to the State Duma on this matter. Andrei Makarov and Pavel Krasheninnikov are among its creators.
Are there enough measures? It’s a separate topic. The arguments in the draft laws are strong. There’s another reason: it’s quieter at home.