Russia to exclude American drugs from the sanctions list
Interfax reports that the State Duma of Russia is amending the draft bill on counter sanctions to avoid prohibiting the import of drugs from the U.S. that are similar to those which exist in Russia, Ivan Melnikov, the First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma, stated.
“It is planned to exclude from the draft bill the mention of specific industries and specific goods and services and leave only the measures that can be applied,” Melnikov said.
In the first reading of the draft bill, it was indicated there was a possibility of banning the import of U.S. medicines into Russia—however, this stipulation will now be removed from the draft bill.
Melnikov explained that the draft bill “deals with the termination or suspension of international cooperation of the Russian Federation in certain industries; the list of industries is determined by the government of the Russian Federation.”
In addition, the bill will be supplemented by a regulation allowing for supporting enterprises and industries that would regularly fall under Western sanctions, Vyacheslav Volodin, the Chairman of the State Duma, stated.
The first reading of the counter sanctions bill will be held in the State Duma on May 15.
On May 9, United States sanctions against 26 Russian companies and organizations came into effect. Companies under sanction include the largest Russian enterprises in the defense industry: Kalashnikov, Uralvagonzavod, Rosoboronexport, MIG, Sukhoi, Tupolev, Izhmash, Rostec, Russian Helicopters and others.