Moscow speaks of “traitors”
EU removes oligarchs close to the Kremlin from the sanctions list
September 14, 2023, 11:47 p.m
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The European Union is extending its sanctions against hundreds of Russian individuals and companies. At the same time, the EU removes three oligarchs from the black list – despite their closeness to Vladimir Putin. However, it seems questionable whether they can be happy about it.
The EU states have lifted sanctions imposed on Russian businessman Alexander Shulgin over the Ukraine war a few days after a ruling by the European Union Court. This emerges from the EU Official Journal this Thursday. The punitive measures against the entrepreneurs Farchad Akhmedov and Grigory Berjoskin were also lifted. For all three, the basis for the sanctions is viewed as too thin.
The EU originally justified the punitive measures against Schulgin by saying that he was the managing director of a Russian platform for electronics trading. This means he is active in areas that serve as an important source of income for Russia. He took part in a meeting of oligarchs with President Vladimir Putin in February 2022. This proves that he supports political measures that threaten Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty.
In the case of Akhmedov and Beryoskin, the EU obviously also saw the risk that they would be successful with lawsuits against the sanctions. Berjoskin was put on the sanctions list by the EU as an “abettor” of President Vladimir Putin. Akhmedov was also accused of being close to the Kremlin.
“They are traitors”
However, it is questionable whether those affected can really be happy about the EU decision in view of statements made by Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Peskov put some of the people complaining against EU sanctions in the same corner as people who recently had to fear for their lives in Russia. “We know that there are entrepreneurs who stoop to anti-Russian positions and who are trying (…) to get out of the sanctions,” he said in Moscow. “They are traitors.” He left it unclear whether he was also referring to Shulgin, Akhmedov and Berjoskin. Peskov added: “There are entrepreneurs who systematically and methodically defend their interests in court. This is the right of every entrepreneur and we treat it with respect.”
There has been no official statement from the EU on the lifting of sanctions. Diplomats pointed out that at the same time the punitive measures against hundreds of other people and companies had been extended until March 15, 2024. In total, almost 1,800 people and organizations are still affected.
The sanctions include travel restrictions. In addition, the assets of those affected in the EU must be frozen and it is forbidden to provide them with money or other economic resources.