Borrell’s representative explained why EU sanctions were lifted from four Russians

The European Union has excluded from the sanctions list Russians who no longer meet the criteria for restrictive measures. This was announced at a briefing by the press secretary of the head of diplomacy of the European Union, Josep Borrell, Peter Stano.

“EU sanctions are always accompanied by a list of individuals and organizations included on the basis of certain criteria. Each package of sanctions is reviewed regularly. And when it is determined that there are no longer legal reasons to leave certain sanctioned persons or organizations on the list, they are removed from there,” Stano explained (quote via Interfax).

According to Borrell’s press secretary, the sanctions criteria ceased to apply to Russians who were released from restrictions on September 14. He added that the decision was made by EU member states by consensus and confidentially. Stano did not specify the details of the criteria.

The official representative of the head of EU diplomacy also said that a total of 10 entities were excluded from the sanctions lists due to the death of persons or “other reasons.” Among others, he included situations where a person managed to prove to the EU Council that the criteria for current restrictions no longer apply to him.

EU reported On September 14, he lifted personal sanctions against serviceman Georgy Shuvaev, who died in the special operation zone, as well as against three businessmen from Russia. The owner of the ESN group, Grigory Berezkin, the former CEO of Ozon, Alexander Shulgin, and the co-owner of Northgas, Farhad Akhmedov, were released from the restrictions.

Entrepreneurs came under sanctions last spring. They challenged the EU decision in court and stated that the reasons for inclusion in the restriction lists were erroneous and the sanctions violated their fundamental rights.