India doesn't want to join sanctions on Moscow, says Russian FM

New Delhi, Sep 03: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday reiterated India's stand on the Russian energy purchases saying 'India doesn't want to join the sanctions (on Russia).'

"India doesn't want to join the sanctions. Indian leaders, including my colleague, EAM Dr S.Jaishankar, have publicly rejected any attempts to involve them in restrictions on the Russian energy purchases," Lavrov was quoted as saying at an event, adding, "They have made it clear that they will follow their own interests."

A statement released by the embassy of Russia quoted its foreign minister Sergey Lavrov as saying that India has publicly rejected any bid to be involved in restrictions on the country's energy purchases. Lavrov also cited his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar in this regard.

The Russian FM was speaking on the prospects of the Russian-Indian partnership and stressed that 'India has always been one of Russia's key priorities, Lavrov said Russia's relations with India are now characterised as the special and privileged strategic partnership.

Notably, last week, Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov slammed the West for criticising India on energy imports from Russia while 'slyly keeping silence on their own purchases' calling it 'double standards.' 'West criticising others for energy procurement from Russia while exempting themselves from their own 'illegitimate sanctions,' Alipov said.