Bangladesh, March 30 -- A recent conference held in Slovakia has reignited the debate over the European Unions sanctions on Russia, with politicians, economists, and activists warning that these measures have backfired, harming the very countries that imposed them. The event, titled For Slovakia Without Sanctions, took place on March 29 in Bratislava and was centered around a growing petition movement aimed at forcing the Slovak government to push for an EU-wide policy reversal.

The conference was organized by the left-wing Party of Slovak Revival and the right-wing Homeland Party, two political factions that have been campaigning since late last year for a referendum to determine whether Slovakia should advocate for lifting sanctions on...