Council of EU Imposes Additional Personal Sanctions on Representatives of Russian Occupation Administration in Crimea

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine welcomed the decision of the Council of the European Union to impose sanctions on eight representatives of the Russian occupation administration in Crimea, whose actions undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine.

The sanctioned persons mentioned in the decision are involved in the persecution of Crimean Tatars and other gross violations of international humanitarian law on the temporarily occupied Ukrainian peninsula.

“The European Union reaffirmed its principled stance on the protection of human rights and commitment to the further implementation of the policy of non-recognition of the attempted annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation,” the Ukrainian diplomats said.

As noted, the introduction of new restrictive measures by the Council of the EU on the eve of the 23rd Ukraine–EU Summit is yet more evidence of the European Union’s unconditional support for Ukraine in its struggle to restore sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognised borders. It also confirms the unity of Ukraine and the European Union in the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and it is a step towards the implementation of the agreements reached at the inaugural Crimea Platform summit.

The EU’s restrictive measures must remain in place until Russia ends its temporary occupation of Crimea and stops committing other gross violations of international law.

Ukraine will continue to cooperate with the EU to expand the scope of sanctions, including the activation of the new EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Mechanism against human rights violators in Crimea.

Background:

EU personal restrictive measures (asset freeze and restrictions on the right to enter into and travel across the territory of EU Member States) were first imposed on 17 March 2014 by the Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP on Russian and Ukrainian officials over actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine. The first sanctions list designated 21 people. Subsequently, the list was expanded to include additional individuals, as well as legal entities and organisations that contributed to the undermining of the territorial integrity of Ukraine. On 11 October 2021, the Council of the EU imposed restrictive measures on eight additional law enforcement and judiciary officials of the Russian occupation administration in Crimea involved in undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity, committing violations of international humanitarian law, and persecuting Crimean Tatars. As of October 2021, EU restrictive measures regarding the territorial integrity of Ukraine now apply to a total of 185 persons and 48 entities. Such restrictive measures of the European Union are extended every six months for another six months by a relevant decision of the Council of the EU.

Natalia Tolub