Canada’s Latest Anti-Russia Sanctions Meaningless, Devoid of Practical Effects - Stepanov

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Canada’s latest round of sanctions against Russia is "meaningless," will not achieve any practical effect and the overall sanctions policy by the collective West will get nowhere, Russian Ambassador in Ottawa Oleg Stepanov told Sputnik on Friday.

"Another round of Canadian anti-Russian sanctions is meaningless, like the entire policy of the Trudeau cabinet toward Russia. They will have no practical effect, but our response will certainly follow, as required by reciprocity in diplomacy and interstate relations," Stepanov said.

"Again, I can emphasize that in general, the policy of Western sanctions is a road to nowhere."

Earlier Friday, Canada sanctioned 15 Russian individuals and three entities over alleged human rights violations and state-sponsored violence toward government critics. The sanctions are directed toward the Russian judiciary and Investigative Committee, federal courts and senior government officials.

Among the 15 sanctioned individuals are Investigative Committee First Deputy Chairman Eduard Kaburneev and First Deputy Minister of Justice Evgeny Zabarchuk.

Among the sanctioned entities is the Basmanny District Court over its involvement in alleged human rights abuses of opposition political figure Alexei Navalny and opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza*. Also sanctioned are the Moscow City Court and the Khamovnicheskiy District Court.

* Recognized as a foreign agent in Russia