Moscow warns citizens of US harassment abroad

Russia on Friday warned its citizens against traveling abroad, especially to countries with extradition agreements with the US, claiming Washington is seeking to harass and detain Russian citizens around the world in retribution for Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula.

“The US administration, groundlessly refusing to recognize the reunification of Crimea with Russia, which is in full compliance with international law and the UN Charter, is trying to make routine practice out of a ‘hunt’ for Russian citizens in third countries with the goal of their subsequent extradition and conviction in the US on the basis of, as a rule, dubious charges,” a statement on the website of the country’s foreign ministry read.

“We strongly recommend Russian citizens refrain from travelling abroad, particularly to countries that have extradition treaties with the US,” the ministry stated.

As it warns Russia to step back from Ukraine or suffer another financial hit, the US is simultaneously trying to coax along a reluctant Europe, which is trying to balance its desire to punish Moscow against its fear of economic turmoil from the effects of a new, harsher round of Western trade sanctions.

Economists say the US risks appearing weak without support from Europe, which is Russia’s largest trading partner and therefore has huge sway over Russia’s already shaky economy. But Europe is far from ready to issue sanctions on Moscow that would undercut its own financial stability while risking its main source of energy.

The fate of new sanctions — and how tough they might be — depends on Moscow’s next moves, and whether Russia deepens or pulls back its meddling in Ukraine.

President Barack Obama already has signed orders that would allow the US to sanction key Russian industries, and European Union foreign ministers will meet Monday to decide what new penalties should be issued if Moscow continues to ignore the West’s warnings.

Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland told a Senate panel this week that US and EU sanctions are “biting” and “pinching” the Russian economy, “and we’re now considering further measures.”

Nuland said Moscow has spent an estimated $25 billion to bolster the value of the ruble over the last five to six weeks since sanctions were introduced. Russia suffered more capital outflow in the first three months of 2014 than the $62.7 billon it lost for all of last year, she said.

“Russia is paying a very high price already for its actions, and that cost will go up if its pressure on Ukraine does not abate,” Nuland said.