MOSCOW, April 16 (RAPSI) – Russia considers filing a complaint against the US with the World Trading Organization over the sanctions imposed on Bank Rossiya, according to the statement made by the Economic Development Minister Aleksei Ulukayev on Wednesday.

As a reaction to the reunification of Crimea with the Russian Federation in mid-March, the US introduced sanctions against 20 Russian citizens and Rossiya Bank. Following this action, the international payment system operators Visa and MasterCard halted client operations for Rossiya Bank, SMP Bank, as well as their subsidiaries Sobinbank and Investkapitalbank with no prior notice. Some of the restrictions were later lifted.

Crimea, a largely Russian-speaking republic within Ukraine, was part of Russia until it was given to Ukraine by Khrushchev in 1954. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an official address to federal and regional officials that the decision was made in clear violation of the constitutional standards of the time.

Crimea moved for independence from Ukraine after having refused to recognize the legitimacy of the new government that came to power following the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych in February.

On March 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing Crimea as an independent state. The same day, the leaders of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and Putin signed a treaty unifying Crimea with Russia.