Foreign Ministry responds to Russia's statements about Ukraine's sanctions against Nicaragua

He wrote this on Twitter, commenting on Russia's statements about Ukraine's sanctions against Nicaragua.

"The 'act of despair' is Russia's constant attempts to convince at least someone in the world that Crimea and Sevastopol are allegedly part of the Russian Federation. The appointment of an honorary consul of Nicaragua has grossly violated Ukrainian law and international law," Nikolenko said.

Earlier, at a briefing on February 4, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called Ukraine's decision to impose sanctions on Nicaragua "an act of despair" and said it "looks ridiculous."

On February 2, the Verkhovna Rada adopted draft resolution No. 4689 "On approval of the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine of February 1, 2021 'On the application of sectoral special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) to the Republic of Nicaragua'."

On November 10, 2020, Ukraine launched a sanctions process against Nicaragua due to the opening of its honorary consulate in Russian-occupied Crimea. Oleg Belaventsev, a participant in Russia's annexation of Crimea, received the post of honorary consul. According to media reports, he was sentenced in absentia to 13 years in prison in Ukraine for participating in the annexation of the peninsula.

In August, Kyiv sent a note of protest to Nicaragua over the opening of the consulate. The country was then warned of possible sanctions.

Nicaragua is one of the countries that regularly do not vote for UN resolutions initiated by Ukraine to recognize Russia as an occupying power due to its annexation of Crimea.

The Verkhovna Rada officially declared February 20, 2014 the date when Russia started its temporary occupation of Crimea and Sevastopol.

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