Dmitri Rogozin, of Serbian origin, under EU and US sanctions!

The United States and the European Union today made a joint decision on sanctions against high-ranking Russian officials, former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and the organizers of the illegal referendum on the annexation of the Crimean peninsula to Russia, world media reported, as carried by the Bosnian news agency Patria (NAP).

The sanctions from Washington and Brussels are aimed at the closest associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and entail freezing bank assets and travel bans. On this occasion, U.S. President Barack Obama issued a special executive order to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. EU foreign ministers also adopted a set of conclusions, including sanctions.

And, as the Bosnian news agency Patria (NAP) learns, among the punished officials of the Russian Federation is Dmitri Rogozin, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and a frequent guest in Belgrade. Rogozin is accused of being one of the organizers of the illegal referendum in Crimea. He is known to be of Serbian origin, with his great-grandfather from the municipality of Šavnik in Montenegro. Two years ago, Rogozin also brought Serbia the news of Russia's $800 million loan to Serbia.

We also sought a comment regarding the escalation of the situation between Western powers and Moscow from foreign policy analyst Neven Kazazović. He views the sanctions of the European Union and the United States with reservation.

- This is a typical beginning of a policy of sanctions against those who pursue a policy with which the European Union and America disagree. So it is nothing unusual - says Kazazović.

Regarding the possible development of events in Crimea and Ukraine, Kazazović says it is ungrateful to predict anything at this moment, but „the situation is indeed fraught with uncertainty and danger.“ Asked whether the European Union and the U.S. could take more serious measures against Russia, he says such quick measures do not exist.

- At the same time, Russia also has some aces up its sleeve, so it is now all about a test of strength. Russia has energy, gas, and so on, anything could happen. It could get out of control, but for now it is not like that. However, in 24 hours everything can change - Kazazović believes.