FICO: EUROPE'S HYPOCRISY - LUXURY SABLE FUR EXEMPTED FROM SANCTIONS

BRATISLAVA, AUGUST 3 /SRNA/ - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico criticized the European Commission for hypocrisy after it exempted Russian luxury sable fur from the sanctions regime, reportedly under pressure from member states dependent on this trade, reports "Russia Today".

"EU hypocrisy is blooming like a cherry tree in May. The import of goods from Russia that our industry or daily life needs is banned, even though it is hard to find a substitute and it is much more expensive. But this will not apply to sable fur. There will be as much of it as needed, as if it were an everyday grocery like coffee or sugar," Fico said in a video message published on Facebook.

Fico stated that Brussels justified the exemption by claiming that European luxury fur product manufacturers have no alternative source for these rare pelts, which are used to make fur coats priced at up to 100,000 euros.

Shortly after the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022, the European Union banned the import of finished Russian fur products, along with other luxury goods such as diamonds and caviar.

Unprocessed furs remained permitted until April, when Brussels banned the import of both raw and processed furs, including sable fur.

However, within the 21st sanctions package, presented at the end of last month and softened following opposition from certain member states due to the damage to their economies, Brussels reversed its decision and exempted raw sable fur from the sanctions, while the ban on importing finished fur products remained in effect.