Yesterday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution which paves the way for the sanctioning of 32 Russian officials deemed to have played a role in the arrest, torture and subsequent death of Russian lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky. Pending approval by the EU Council, individuals who have been named on the ‘Magnitsky List’ will be subject to EU-wide asset freezes and visa restrictions. The adoption of this resolution is in line with US measures, and includes 16…
Comments by David Cameron in London and President Obama in Brussels today appear to indicate that no further sanctions will be imposed against Russia in relation to its existing actions regarding the annexation of Crimea. Whilst Cameron told MPs in parliament that a ‘strong, robust and powerful’ package of trade, financial and economic sanctions is being drawn up by the European Union, both leaders suggested that they will only be put in place should Russia…
Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission today condemned the referendum held in Crimea and Russia’s attempt to annex Crimea. The G7 further stated that if Russia escalates the situation in the region, it will “intensify actions including coordinated sectoral sanctions that will have an increasingly significant impact on the Russian economy”. The diplomatic measures taken today at the G7…
After the takeover of Ukrainian army bases and the seizure of military assets by Russian forces this weekend, the interim president of Ukraine has today ordered the withdrawal of the Ukrainian army from Crimea. As Russian forces amass on the Ukrainian border, EU ministers continue to suggest that Europe is united in its readiness to expand sanctions against Russia if the stand-off over Ukraine escalates. Although calls for the EU to specifically impose economic sanctions…