Washington’s sanctions imposed on Friday on Russian Deputy Energy Minister Andrei Cherezov and ministry’s department head Yevgeny Grabchak are illegal and the Energy Ministry awaits explanation from the United States. Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters on Saturday.
`We view them as absolutely illegal and we have been given no arguments.` Novak said. `We will be waiting for some explanation. People are working. performing their state duties. They keep working and these bans just create additional tensions.`.