Monday, December 13, 2021
Sanctions against mercenary troops
EU punishes “Russia’s shadow army”
The Russian mercenary company Wagner is active in crisis countries such as Syria and Ukraine, and has been accused of serious human rights violations. Now the European Union is sanctioning the force. For example, assets are to be frozen.
The foreign ministers of the EU states have decided on sanctions against the Russian mercenary company Wagner and companies and persons affiliated with it. The reason for the move is in particular Wagner’s activities in Syria, Libya and Ukraine, as confirmed by the Council of Member States and diplomats. According to the EU, serious human rights violations occur time and again when the company is deployed. Moscow denies any official connection to the units, which are also known as “Russia’s shadow army”.
According to the information, the decision of the foreign ministers specifically provides for the Wagner Group as well as three companies associated with it and eight people to be placed on the EU sanctions list. This means that their existing assets in the EU will be frozen and data subjects will no longer be allowed to enter the EU. Companies and citizens from the EU are also no longer allowed to do business with those affected. The sanction decision should be published this Monday in the EU Official Journal and thus come into force.
There had recently been excitement in the EU because of a possible deployment of Wagner in Mali. The member states then openly threatened the crisis country with an end to their support in the event of an order for the Russian company. Among other things, the EU is active in Mali with a military training mission (EUTM Mali). The aim of the mission is actually to support the armed forces in the region with advice and training so that they can effectively counter threats from terrorist groups. The unstable crisis state has been plagued by Islamist terror groups for years.
The Bundeswehr is also involved in two international missions by the EU and the UN in Mali with a total of up to 1,700 soldiers. The missions are currently considered to be the most dangerous of the Bundeswehr.