Zincy
In Vino Veritas
The Russian ruling party intends to implement “criminal charges” on companies that comply with western sanctions.
I’m scratching my head as to how they expect that to work? If the businesses are international, and not directly based in Russia, they’re untouchable. Where would they try them? The Hague? Russia doesn’t recognize the ICCs jurisdiction.
If they’d try and go after the oligarchs that wouldn’t work either. For starters they have not control over if international companies they work with pull out of Russia. And even if they were to go after them, that’s just a faster way to ensure that Putin ends up with a polonium pellet in his morning coffee.
If they, stupidly, go after the workers all that will do is further disenfranchise millions of Russians who would already be suffering from the loss of their jobs. Seems like an easy way to further foment unrest in your own country.
To me this just sounds like Russia is stamping its feet.
China likely wouldn’t risk retaliatory sanctions, as it would have feedback on their own economy. More likely, China would prefer to avoid the problem altogether.
I’ve been of the opinion that China and Russia are fairweather friends.