Russia considers UN step to block bid to include Al Qaeda-linked persons in sanctions list

Russia considers the UN step towards blocking Russia’s application to include persons linked with Al Qaeda in the sanctions list, the Foreign Ministry reported on Thursday. “In March, the Russian Federation submitted an application to the UN Sanctions Committee to include Finnish citizen Mikael Stursa and Isa Dzhabrailov, who is currently living in Sweden, as well as the Turkish non-government organization ‘Imkader’ in the Committee’s sanctions list,” the ministry said. “Despite Russia’s proof saying Stursa, Dzhabrailov and Imkader are linked with Al Qaeda’s Imarat Kavkaz international terrorist organization and the Kavkaz Centr Internet extremist website, Britain, France and Luxembourg blocked Russia’s application while the United States and Azerbaijan came against imposing sanctions on the Imkader non-governmental organization,” the ministry said. Russia considers such approach “non-constructive. It does not meet the common interests of fighting international terrorism and the consolidated position by the UN Security Council members on this problem”, the ministry said. “This is one more proof, which expresses disappointment with the mercenary policy of double standards and manipulating issues, which are related to the effective use of anti-terrorist sanctions regimes in the UN Security Council,” the ministry said. The selective approach by the partners “reminded us of the boomerang effect and proves the need to fight terrorism jointly”, the ministry added. Russia “intends to continue protecting a consistent policy to strengthening the Committee’s anti-terrorist potential in strict compliance with its mandate and the procedures in order to ensure international and national security”, the ministry said.