OREANDA-NEWS Western countries should reduce sanctions pressure on Russian opposition leaders, human rights activists and independent journalists, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul said in a column for the Washington Post, according to Gazeta.ru.

According to the politician, many of them can't use their credit cards, can't access their accounts, and can't obtain visas, residence permits and other documents. As an example, McFaul cited the story of former Russian State Duma deputy Dmitry Gudkov.

McFaul said Western countries should create a special commission to help these kinds of Russian citizens who face difficulties because of sanctions abroad. Such a commission could make recommendations on the basis of which certain Russians could be removed from sanctions.

Earlier, when discussing Ukraine's membership in NATO, which U.S. diplomats had long claimed was possible, McFaul admitted that diplomats were lying.