(AGENPARL) – ven 07 ottobre 2022 –

The Council decided today to impose restrictive measures on an additional 30 individuals and 7 entities in view of Russia’s escalating military aggression against Ukraine and other actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

In addition, the Council decided to broaden the listing criteria on which specific designations can be based, in order to include the possibility to target those who facilitate the circumvention of EU sanctions. The Council considers that facilitating infringements of the prohibition against circumvention of certain EU restrictive measures is likely to contribute to destabilising Ukraine or undermining its territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.

“In direct response to the latest Russian escalation of its aggression against Ukraine and the blatant violation of the UN Charter, we are sanctioning additional individuals and entities who are supporting, facilitating or benefiting from Russia’s illegal actions. This includes those who organised this sham “referenda”, high ranking officials in the Russian Ministry of Defence and prominent propaganda figures spreading disinformation. Our steadfast support to Ukraine and to the Principles of the UN Charter and international law will continue. e We again call on Russia to end its devastating and senseless aggression.”
Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Some of the individuals designated today have played a role in the organisation of the illegal sham ‘referenda’ held in in parts of the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine, and their illegal annexation. Others are representatives of the defence sector, like the largest shareholder of arms producer JSC Kalashnikov Concern, Alan Lushnikov and the former and current Deputy Ministers of Defence of the Russian Federation. Lastly the list includes individuals who are part of the Kremlin’s disinformation and information manipulation ecosystem, and who contribute to spreading disinformation about the war, such as the Russian political scientist Aleksander Dugin and singers Yulia Chicherina and Nikolay Rastorguev.

The 7 sanctioned entities include defence companies providing weapons or fighter aircraft to the Russian Armed Forces, the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Russian Federation, which is responsible for organising elections and referenda, and JSC Goznak, a Russian state-owned joint-stock company responsible for the manufacturing of security products.

Today’s decision is part of the latest package of restrictive measures imposed by the EU against Russia in view of the escalation of its military aggression against Ukraine.

Altogether, EU restrictive measures now apply to a total of 1236 individuals and 115 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.

The relevant legal acts, including the names of the listed individuals and entities, have been published in the Official Journal of the EU.

Background

On 21 September 2022, in spite of numerous calls by the international community on Russia to immediately stop its military aggression against Ukraine, the Russian Federation decided to further escalate its aggression against Ukraine by supporting the organisation of illegal sham “referenda” in the parts of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions that are currently occupied by Russia. The Russian Federation also further escalated its aggression against Ukraine by announcing a mobilisation in the Russian Federation and by again threatening to use weapons of mass destruction.

These illegal sham “referenda” were strongly condemned on 22 September 2022 by a declaration of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on behalf of the EU.

On 28 September 2022, the High Representative issued another declaration on behalf of the EU once more condemning in the strongest possible terms the illegal sham “referenda”, and confirming that the EU would never recognise them and their falsified outcome. The EU urged all UN members to do the same. The High Representative also indicated that all those involved in organising these illegal sham “referenda” as well as those responsible for other violations of international law in Ukraine would be held accountable and that additional restrictive measures against Russia would be brought forward in this regard. The High Representative recalled that the Union remains unwavering in its support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and demands that Russia immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its troops and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine. The High Representative further declared that the Union and its Member States will continue to support Ukraine’s efforts to this end, as long as necessary.

On 30 September 2022, the members of the European Council adopted a statement in which they firmly rejected and unequivocally condemned the illegal annexation by Russia of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. They also states that, by wilfully undermining the rules-based international order and blatantly violating the fundamental rights of Ukraine to independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, core principles as enshrined in the UN Charter and international law, Russia is putting global security at risk. They called on all states and international organisations to unequivocally reject that illegal annexation and recalled that Ukraine is exercising its legitimate right to defend itself against the Russian aggression to regain full control of its territory and has the right to liberate occupied territories within its internationally recognised borders.