A rally against Western economic sanctions imposed on Russia over alleged involvement in Ukraine’s conflict was held in the northern Italian city of Bologna, leader of the political movement "Socialismo Patriottico" Stefano Bonilauri told RIA Novosti Saturday.ROME(Sputnik) — The "No sanctions against Russia" action took place on the Piazza XX Settembre (Square) in Bologna, near the Central train station of the city. Another civic organization, Italy-Russia Committee, was a co-organizer of the rally.
"About 60 people attended our demonstration. The majority of them were Italians. The aim of the event is to make it clear to the government that we are against sanctions."
The peaceful protests came ahead of EU summit in Brussels scheduled for June 25-26, where the European leaders are expected to make a final decision on prolongation of anti-Russia sanctions, which expire in July.
"The European Parliament is due to vote soon on the extension of economic sanctions against Russia. We believe that this measure is absolutely unjustified and groundless. It’s a serious violation of the sovereignty and the right for the free development of both Russia and Italy as well as of other countries," the activists pointed out, hoping that their government will change their opinion on the issue.
Western leaders imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia in 2014 over its alleged involvement in eastern Ukrainian conflict, which Moscow has firmly denied.
Both the United States and the European Union have made the duration of sanctions dependent on the full implementation of the February Minsk agreements on Ukraine reconciliation by the warring parties.
Moscow has firmly refuted the allegations as groundless.
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