Visa and MasterCard cut off a number of Russian banks from their services

This was done in connection with the extension of sanctions against Russia from the United States. Visa and MasterCard cut off Russian banks, which operate in Crimea - "Genbank", "Verhnevolzhskiy", "Sevastopol Marine Bank", "Inresbank" and "Mosoblbank." Citizens who have cards of these banks are not able to use the services of payment now.

Element of US economic war against Russia

Visa and MasterCard are multinational companies from the United States (with offices in New York and San Francisco). Besides these, there are other payment systems, but these two are the most common.

It is clear that such actions are an economic war that is aimed not only against specific financial institutions, but also against the ordinary people - the citizens of Russia.

Earlier, the Russian government had instructed the development of a domestic payment system, because they need to be independent from external actors. However, many banks continue to use Visa and MasterCard in their operations.

Financial sovereignty

Despite the statements of commitment to liberal values (free movement of people, goods and services) the United States is actually creating a monopoly with which to exert political pressure and manipulation. The US Treasury, together with the CIA and FBI, conducts intelligence activities in relation to all legal entities that fall within the field of their attention and make their own decisions on the imposition of sanctions.

This is often done unnecessarily. For example, earlier, because of standard cooperation with Syria and Iran, the United States imposed sanctions on Russian "Tempbank."

This raises the question of fiscal sovereignty - if foreign companies can easily block the banking operations in another state – does this state have full sovereignty?

Future of Payment Systems

In connection with the computerization of the banking sector, future operations will increasingly move to cashless payments and Internet banking. In this connection the question arises - will this guarantee the reliability of domestic and international transactions, if the large part of this sector is under the control of the United States?

China has developed its own payment system, which is used on an international level (but mostly domestically). It is likely that Russia also wants to use autonomous methods of financial transactions, and to establish other possible methods of banking. This will create a financial multipolarity, but at the same time it will be in the framework of international law.

Related links
Financial Sovereignty as the Prerequisite for Political Sovereignty and Cultural Regeneration
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