Russia, Zimbabwe Condemn ‘Unjust’ Sanctions, Stand United

Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said that Russia and Zimbabwe stand for the complete abolition of the unjust sanctions against countries.

HARARE (Sputnik) — Moscow and Harare condemn sanctions imposed on the two countries by Western states and urge to lift them, Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said Saturday.

On Friday, Manturov visited the Zimbabwean city of Bulawayo to attend the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, where Russia is presenting a number of products and services.

"We stand for the complete abolition of the unjust sanctions," Manturov said after the meeting of the intergovernmental Russian-Zimbabwean commission, co-chaired by the Russian official and Zimbabwean Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi.

The Zimbabwean top diplomat added that it was necessary to unite the two countries’ efforts to prevent damage to their economies, as was intended by the Western states.

Washington, Brussels and their allies introduced several rounds of sanctions against Moscow after accusing the Kremlin of meddling in the 2014 crisis and subsequent conflict in Ukraine, a claim Russia has repeatedly denied.

Zimbabwe has been under economic, travel and individual sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union since early 2000s over the accusations of human rights abuses, among other claims.