WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 16th January, 2019) Republicans should agree to discuss concerns over a proposal to lift sanctions on Russian companies En+, Rusal, and Eurosibenergo controlled by businessman Oleg Deripaska, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Tuesday.
"I close by urging my Republican colleagues, whatever your view on the issue is, there are enough questions and at least we should go forward and debate," Schumer told reporters on Capitol Hill.
The Treasury on December 19 announced that it would roll back its sanctions on EN+, Rusal and JSC EuroSib Energo after the three firms agreed to sweeping structural changes that will reduce the ownership of Russian businessman Oleg Deripaska and improve transparency. Deripaska himself will remain on the US sanctions list, and his assets will remain sanctioned.
The Senate is currently considering a motion proposed by Schumer that would block the Treasury Department's move to lift sanctions on the three companies.
Schumer said relaxing the sanctions on the companies would be a disgrace and an easy win for the Russian government.
He added that he suspects President Donald Trump's administration will try to go ahead with the Treasury's sanctions rollback before the Office of Special Counsel finishes its investigation into the president's alleged ties with Russia.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating claims that Russia meddled in the 2016 US election,� as well as allegations of collusion between Trump's campaign team and Moscow.
Russia has repeatedly denied interfering in the 2016 US presidential election, saying the allegations were made up to excuse the election loss of a presidential candidate as well as deflect public attention from actual instances of electoral fraud and corruption.
Trump has also denied colluding with Russia, frequently characterizing Mueller's investigation as a political witch hunt and one that has not produced evidence in two years.
