On 28 January 2020, the European Council added seven persons to the list of those subject to restrictive measures (asset freezes and travel bans) over actions ‘undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine’ (EU Press Release here). The new designations arise as a result of the organisation of Russian local elections on 8 September 2019 in the illegally annexed Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol in Ukraine. The…
On 25 October 2018, the European parliament passed a non-binding resolution expressing its concerns over Russia’s actions in the Sea of Azov, in particular the construction of the Kerch Bridge and inspections of ships going through the Kerch Straight (actions that the Parliament suggests are in breach of international maritime law and Russia’s international commitments). The Resolution welcomes the Council’s decision to impose sanctions on six companies involved in the construction of the bridge, and…
UK Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, started his three-day visit to the US last week by calling on the EU to follow the US in imposing sanctions on Russia in response to the Salisbury nerve agent attack that happened earlier this year. On 6 August 2018, the US State Department accused Russia of contravening international law by using the chemical nerve agent “Novichok” on foreign soil and, on 24 August 2018, gave notice that the US…
The European Union has imposed sanctions on three Russian individuals, including Deputy Energy Minister Andrey Cherezov, and three Russian companies, including two of Siemens’ contracting companies, in response to the delivery of Siemens’ gas turbines to Crimea in violation of EU sanctions. On 4 August 2017 the Council of the European Union published Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1417, to amend Annex 1 to Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or…