Russian Efforts to Circumvent New US Sanctions

Russian reactions to the Caesar Act, a US law which came into force on Wednesday imposing new US sanctions on Syria and its allies, continued on Friday as diplomats downplayed its repercussions.

Russian diplomatic sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Moscow warned the US during talks held between the two sides in February that the law “would be ineffective even if Washington insists on applying it.”

Therefore, Russians are ready to face and evade the sanctions, which target companies that deal with Bashar Assad’s government.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov has said his country would not halt its military and economic cooperation with the Syrian government.

Former Russian ambassador Andrey Baklanov told Asharq Al-Awsat on Friday that there is no need to overreact to the new law.

The ambassador, who takes part in consultation talks on the Syrian war and other Middle Eastern issues, said that despite the Caesar Act, Moscow would find means to continue to offer military, technical, economic and financial support to Syria.

“Our efforts are not restricted to Syria. We will even continue … to support Iran and other countries in the region and outside that are affected by US sanctions,” Baklanov said.

He said Russia has a long experience in dealing with economic sanctions. “Moscow does not fear this development,” the former ambassador said.

The Russian diplomat said Moscow would be able to establish companies as alternatives to the firms that would exit the Syrian market.

Meanwhile, Andrey Chuprygin, a senior lecturer at the National Research University–Higher School of Economics in Moscow, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Act would have a severe impact on Syrian citizens.

“The Americans say the sanctions aim to defend civilians but the problem is that this Act would negatively affect the entry of humanitarian aid and medial and food supplies to Syria,” he said.

“The sanctions would complicate the living conditions of Syrian citizens, who already suffer under dire economic conditions,” Chuprygin added.