Admin l Friday, December 16, 2022
BRUSSELS – The Councill of the European Union today to imposed restrictive measures on an additional 141 individuals and 49 entities in response to the escalating Russian military aggression against Ukraine.
“This decision is an integral element of the comprehensive ninth package of sanctions adopted by the Council earlier today”, the council said.
“We are targeting almost 200 new individuals and entities who have been instrumental in Russia’s latest escalation in its illegal war in Ukraine. The political masters in the Russian government, in the Duma, in the Federation Council, and in the judiciary are being targeted.
“Those responsible for looting of Ukrainian grain and for the force deportation of Ukrainian people and, in particular, children, are being sanctioned, as well as organisations who are poisoning of the public space with a systematic manipulation of information. We are determined to act in support of Ukraine, for as long as needed”, Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said.
The listed individuals include members of the Russian armed forces and its various branches, members of the State Duma and of the Federation Council, ministers and governors. They also include those responsible for missile strikes against civilians, civilian critical infrastructure, and the kidnappings and subsequent illegal adoptions of Ukrainian children. Lastly, family members of already sanctioned individuals, popular public figures responsible for propaganda and disinformation, as well as those responsible for the looting of Ukrainian agricultural products are also blacklisted.
The sanctioned entities include banks such as the Credit Bank of Moscow, JSC Dalnevostochniy, defence and industrial companies, numerous political parties, media holdings under control of the Russian authorities that constitute the core of the Kremlin’s propaganda machine, and paramilitary groups.
Altogether, EU restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine now apply to a total of 1386 individuals and 171 entities. Those designated are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. Natural persons are additionally subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting through EU territories.
According to the council, none of the measures adopted in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine target in any way the trade in agricultural and food products, including wheat and fertilisers, between third countries and Russia.
“However, in view of the Union’s determined stance to avoid and combat food insecurity around the world, and in order to avoid disruptions in the payment channels for agricultural products, it was decided to introduce a new derogation allowing to unfreeze assets of, and to make funds and economic resources available to, certain individuals who held a significant role in international trade in agricultural and food products, including wheat and fertilisers, prior to their listing”, the council added.
In its conclusions of 20 and 21 October 2022, the European Council condemned in the strongest possible terms the indiscriminate Russian missile and drone attacks targeting civilians and civilian objects and infrastructure in Kyiv and across Ukraine. Recalling the statement of 30 September 2022, and in line with the United Nations General Assembly Resolution of 12 October 2022, the European Council also reiterated its unequivocal condemnation and firm rejection of the illegal annexation by Russia of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions and, as in the case of Crimea and Sevastopol, the EU will never recognise this illegal annexation.
The European Council stated that Russia’s unilateral decisions deliberately violate the United Nations Charter and blatantly disregard the rules-based international order, and the EU stands ready to continue to reinforce its restrictive measures against Russia.
In the face of Russia’s war of aggression, the EU stands resolutely with Ukraine and its people, and is unwavering in its support of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
The relevant legal acts, including the names of the listed individuals and entities, have been published in the Official Journal of the EU.
