Why Sanctions on Russia Don t Work

When Estonia resisted, Russia imposed sanctions and cut off gas supplies. The few Estonian products allowed into Russia were heavily taxed, and Russia even threatened military intervention.

Russia trades heavily with Iran, which is another reason it is wary of sanctions on that country.

As for the West, it is fruitless to try to bring Putin and his team back to democracy, where Russia does not belong, or to punish Russia with sanctions, which won t work.

Russia, of course, helped Iran kick off its nuclear program, and has often defended the Iranian regime from stiffer United Nations sanctions.

Iran has threatened to leave the NPT if sanctions are imposed, and Russia and China worry that even modest targeted sanctions could escalate and ultimately legitimize an American use of force that they wish to avoid.

This legitimate mercantile concern has supposedly been reciprocated by small steps by Russia in the direction of a policy of sanctions against Iran.

While the Western powers have embraced ever harsher sanctions, Russia and China view Iran as a tool in their global competition with the US.

But Russian leaders resist tough sanctions on Iran, lest they jeopardize financial dealings there and lead to increased Iranian support for Muslim minorities inside Russia.

As for the West, it is fruitless to try to bring Putin and his team back to democracy, where Russia does not belong, or to punish Russia with sanctions, which won t work. The West must recognize where Russia stands on history s timeline and not seek to wish this away.

Introducing such targeted sanctions would be an indisputable sign that the West will not compromise on its fundamental values values that Putin s Russia claims to share.

Another problem is that implementing sanctions that cannot be reversed quickly removes the incentive for Russia to return to the negotiating table, especially because the threat of an escalation of financial sanctions lacks credibility, given the risk to European and US financial stability.

Such sanctions may include monetary sanctions.

Resistance to sanctions from Russia, China, and France has persuaded US officials to allow more time for diplomacy before pushing for punitive action in the Security Council.

Argentina has technically defaulted American and European financial institutions and markets are jittery and Russia is promising that the sanctions it faces will have no impact on its economy.

For example, late last year, the US Congress imposed sanctions against Russian officials implicated in human rights abuses, prompting Russia to institute a ban on adoptions by American families.

Unless Obama reaches an uneasy understanding with Russia which would require revising post Cold War strategic agreements the chances of imposing a tight sanctions regime on Iran are slim.

Sanctions

Sanctions

Third, Iran is anxious that weaponization could exhaust any remaining tolerance from Russia and China. Fourth, it wants to avoid the further economic pain that universally applied sanctions would cause.

Brazil has barely uttered a word in reaction to the region s tumult, while Russia and China have little taste for sanctions against Libya in light of their own autocratic governments.

Countries like South Korea and Japan, for example, have curtailed their imports of Iranian oil only reluctantly countries like China and Russia rarely play straight on sanctions in the first place.

Russia and China, which claim to oppose the emergence of a nuclear armed Iran, are now being pressed to support new, tough sanctions to increase the odds it does not happen.

Sanctions Blowback

These sanctions were primarily targeted against the transfer of nuclear and ballistic missile technologies and, in response to concerns of China and Russia, were lighter than that sought by the United States.

Monitoring of sanctions implementation by sanctions committees and monitoring mechanisms, in accordance with relevant Council resolutions, can increase the effectiveness of sanctions.

Sanctions and Solidarity

Let Russia Be Russia

(b) Sanctions committees provide opportunities for third States affected by sanctions to brief them on the unintended impact of sanctions they are experiencing and on assistance needed by them to mitigate the negative impact of sanctions

(b) Sanctions committees provide opportunities for third States affected by sanctions to brief them on the unintended impact of sanctions they are experiencing and on assistance needed by them to mitigate the negative impact of sanctions

(b) Sanctions committees provide opportunities for third States affected by sanctions to brief them on the unintended impact of sanctions they are experiencing and on assistance needed by them to mitigate the negative impact of sanctions

Do Economic Sanctions Work?

Prosecution, adjudication and sanctions

No religion sanctions terrorism.

Notification, sanctions and consequences

Implementation of sanctions measures

Implementation of the sanctions

Working Group on Sanctions

BRUSSELS The European Union has finally agreed on its third level sanctions against Russia for its actions in Ukraine. As is usual for the EU, arriving at this point has been a long and difficult process.

But a clear headed analysis of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad s behavior indicates that EU sanctions would lead to more trade diversion, with China, Russia, Turkey, or Dubai benefiting from reduced levels of European exports to Iran.

First, Ukraine demands a bilateral protocol on market access, which would force Russia to abolish roughly 100 trade sanctions, primarily in agriculture. The second obstacle is border controls with Georgia, a mainly political issue whether Abkhazia and South Ossetia are independent, as Russia maintains, or are part Georgia, as the rest of the world believes.

Unlike comprehensive sanctions, targeted sanctions tend to have minimal negative effects on civilian populations and third States.

Table 5 Reform programmes for lifting timber sanctions (Committee to Review Sanctions on Log and Timber Trade)

Russia continues to place hurdles before American proposals for sanctions on Iran, has signed with it lavish energy contracts, and is about to sell it advanced aerial systems aimed at thwarting a possible Israeli or American attack.

Cartels Sanctions against Individuals (2004)