EU Court Upholds Sanctions Against Yanukovych and Abramovich
The European Court of Justice has definitively dismissed appeals aimed at overturning sanctions imposed on former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, his son, and Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
This ruling marks the culmination of years-long legal battles within the European judicial system, which sought to challenge the legitimacy of the sanctions initially enacted in 2014 and expanded in 2022.
Experts suggest that the decision reaffirms the EU’s stance on holding individuals accountable for actions that allegedly contributed to Ukraine’s destabilization and the escalation of the conflict with Russia.
The court’s 18-page decision highlights that Yanukovych’s role as head of state and his continued connections to Russia provided sufficient grounds for sanctions.
It also emphasized that Yanukovych did not attempt to dissociate himself from Russia after the events of 2014 and even participated in gatherings during March 2022, when Russian troops threatened Kyiv.
Similarly, the appeal by Yanukovych’s former associate was rejected, reaffirming the court’s firm stance.
Rikard Jozwiak from Radio Free Europe and editor of ‘European Truth’ commented that this outcome is a significant victory for European sanctions policy and underscores their firmness.
Notably, earlier rulings by the EU courts had canceled old sanctions against Yanukovych, but these had little practical effect given the new measures introduced in 2022.
Additionally, Abramovich recently lost a court case in the UK, where he sought to have sanctions lifted.
Overall, the decision cements the EU’s firm approach to sanctions and their application against individuals linked to destabilization efforts and foreign aggression.