Western Countries Sanction Russian Officials Over Crimea Vote

The US and EU imposed sanctions Monday on senior Russian officials following a referendum in Ukraine's autonomous republic of Crimea on Sunday in which voters overwhelmingly supported secession and reunification with Russia. Those named on the US and EU lists of sanctions are banned from entry into the US and EU member states and their financial assets will be frozen. The US sanctions targeted seven top Russian officials close to President Vladimir Putin, including the speaker of the upper house of parliament, Valentina Matviyenko, and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin. The White House also announced sanctions on ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and three other Ukrainians, including the Crimean Prime Minister, Sergei Aksyonov. The EU sanctions will be imposed for a six month period on a separate list of 10 members of the Russian parliament, three military commanders and eight Crimean officials, although the individuals targeted were not named except for the commander of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, Alexander Vitko. The moves came a day after a referendum in Ukraine’s largely Russian-speaking autonomous republic of Crimea saw over 96 percent of voters approve secession and reunification with Russia. The White House announced that the sanctions could be broadened if Russia moves to incorporate Crimea into its territory. Russian officials earlier promised a proportional response against EU and US officials if sanctions were forthcoming. The crisis in Ukraine began after Yanukovych stepped back from closer relations with Europe last fall, leading to months of often violent protests. Crimea has refused to recognize as legitimate the government that came to power following Yanukovych’s ouster by a vote of parliament February 22, instead declaring independence and seeking to join Russia.