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The West is promoting totalitarian rule in global affairs by means of expanding sanction and other methods of illegal pressure on other states, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov wrote in his article published in the Kommersant daily and the Russia in Global Affairs journal on Monday, TASS reported.

"By expanding sanctions and other illegitimate coercive measures against sovereign states, the West promotes totalitarian rule in global affairs, assuming an imperial, neo-colonial stance in its relations with third countries. They are asked to adopt the democratic rule under the model of the Western choosing, and forget about democracy in international affairs, since someone will be deciding everything for them. All that is asked of these third countries is to keep quiet, or face reprisals," he noted.

"While proclaiming the "right" to interfere in the domestic affairs of other countries for the sake of promoting democracy as it understands it, the West instantly loses all interest when we raise the prospect of making international relations more democratic, including renouncing arrogant behaviour and committing to abide by the universally recognised tenets of international law instead of "rules," he wrote.

According to the Russian top diplomat, "clearheaded politicians" in Europe and the United States understand that such an uncompromising policy is a path to nowhere. They "are beginning to think pragmatically, albeit out of public view, recognising that the world has more than just one civilisation. They are beginning to recognise that Russia, China and other major powers have a history that dates back a thousand years, and have their own traditions, values and way of life," he added.