The Russian Duma (Lower Chamber) urged the United States today to practice a policy towards Cuba based on respect for equality, non-interference in internal affairs, and freedom of trade and international navigation.

This includes the definitive lifting of the economic, commercial and financial blockade, said a call adopted today by the Russian legislators of four political parties represented at the Duma.

Leonid Kalashnikov, first Vice President of the International Relations Committee, introduced the draft resolution, which was unanimously endorsed by the plenary session.

With extreme clarity, the universal condemnation of the U.S. blockade against Cuba was expressed in the resolution of the U.N. General Assembly, adopted on November 13 by a wide majority, the Duma document said.

According to Cuban authorities, the economic damage inflicted on the country by the more than 50-year siege until December 2011, considering the depreciation of the dollar against the value of gold in the international market, amounted to $1.066 trillion dollars.

They state that the unilateral U.S. blockade not only hampers the development of the Cuban economy, but also undermines the rights and legitimate interests of Cuban citizens living in other countries, as well as in third countries.