The head of the European Parliament proposed to strengthen sanctions against Russia

David Sassoli believes that the EU should step up pressure on Russian officials, while at the same time establishing closer contacts with civil society, as well as supporting dissidents,NGOs and independent media David Sassoli

After the imposition of sanctions against Belarus due to the incident with the Ryanair aircraft, the EU should consider further sanctions against RUSSIA, said the HEAD of the European Parliament, David Maria Sassoli, in an interview with the Funke media group.

“We must tighten sanctions against Russian officials, but also establish closer contacts with the population and civil society and support Russian dissidents, non-governmental organizations and independent media,” he said (quoted by T-Online).

The head of the European Parliament also noted that the EU and Russia now have "very tense" relations.

In addition, Sassoli commented on the detention in Belarus of the former editor-in-chief of the Nexta TELEGRAM channel Roman Protasevich and called for further measures to be taken to release him. He believes that Protasevich's photograph should be "exhibited at all airports in the EU and in the European Parliament."

Now Sassoli, as well as several other European officials and politicians, are under Russian sanctions, they are prohibited from entering the territory of Russia. Moscow imposed restrictions on EU representatives at the end of April, following similar actions by the Union against six Russians on March 2 and 22.