Russia said today the European Union's decision to sanction a Russian deputy energy minister over the delivery of Siemens' turbines to Moscow-annexed Crimea was politically motivated and illegal.
The EU first imposed sanctions on Russia after the 2014 military annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. On Friday, it introduced additional measures in response to the delivery of Siemens' gas turbines to Crimea, which violated its existing sanctions. It imposed sanctions on three more Russians - including Deputy Energy Minister Andrei Cherezov - and three Russian companies.
Interference in a dispute between two business entities is a direct violation of international legal norms
"Interference in a dispute between two business entities is a direct violation of international legal norms," the Russian Energy Ministry said in a statement.
"The Russian Energy Ministry has no doubt that the EU took this decision based solely on political reasoning."
Germany's Siemens on Friday said it has renewed an offer to buy back the gas turbines: "Siemens did offer to repurchase all turbines before they were illegally moved to Crimea against clear contractual agreements."
"The offer was turned down and, as we have recently published in our statement, we renewed our offer to buy back the equipment and annul the original contract," the statement said.