Russian senator slams EU over “double standards” on Ukraine

Mikhail Margelov file photo

(Interfax – Moscow, February 11, 2014) The head of the Russian Federation Council’s International Affairs Committee, Mikhail Margelov, has accused the European Union of employing double standards.

Margelov told Interfax that during his work in PACE he and his colleagues from the Russian delegation acquired strong immunity to double standards in assessments of the same events that are used by this organization.

“Regretfully, the inclination to this ‘move’ in the European political culture is being manifested today at every step. However, debates in PACE are one matter: have a conversation and disperse. But it is another matter when double standards are used by the EU, which not only engages in debates but also acts in such an ambiguous manner,” Margelov said.

Disturbances in Bosnia and Hercegovina are being repressed by tough police actions and stun grenades, rubber bullets and water guns are being used against protesters.

“However, as it turns out from EU officials’ statements, the EU is completely on the side of the authorities in the Tuzla case in contrast to Kiev,” Margelov said.

He said that in the EU’s view it was permissible and proper to use stun grenades, rubber bullets and water guns against participants in disturbances in Tuzla but impermissible in Kiev.

“Catherine Ashton’s calls for stopping violence in Bosnia and Hercegovina are not addressed at the authorities and the police but at protesters, whereas it is the opposite case in regard to Ukraine,” Margelov said.

He added that big politics was not protected against the use of double standards. However, the senator said that there were limits of decency that one could apply.

“However, the EU’s position towards disturbances in Tuzla exhibit these standards unceremoniously. According to the logic of EU’s diplomacy, disturbances in countries that wish to enter the EU must be harshly repressed. The authorities are good in such countries no matter ! how they are in reality according to the EU’s standards,” Margelov said.

At the same time, disturbances should not be stopped in Ukraine whose authorities refused from association with the EU, and here the authorities are to blame for everything, Margelov added.

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