EU Extends Travel Sanctions for Persons Threatening Ukrainian Territorial Integrity for Another Six Months

The European Council decided on March 12, 2021, to extend the sanctions for all persons considered to be threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine for another six months until September 15, 2021.

The ongoing restrictions consist of travel restrictions, the seizure of assets, and a ban of funds and financial resources to the listed persons and institutions.

Sanctions will continue to be in force for 177 individuals and 48 entities, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

A press release of the EU Council announcing the decision notes that the restrictive measures for activities threatening the territorial integrity, authority, and independence of Ukraine were introduced on March 17, 2014, for the first time, and they have constantly been extended since then.

In the EU Foreign Affairs Council held on the same date, the EU foreign ministers firmly criticized the referendum in Crimea and did not recognize its outcome. In the light of this development, they decided to introduce measures against 21 officials that were responsible for threatening Ukraine’s territorial integrity on March 6, 2014.

Apart from the individual restrictions such as asset freeze and travel restrictions, the EU implemented other measures as a response to the crisis in Ukraine, which include:

• Economic sanctions
• Restrictions on economic relations with Sevastopol and Crimea

Previously AtoZSerwisPlus.com has reported that the European Union Council had decided to extend travel sanctions on 175 persons who continue to undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine until March 15, 2020.

Sanctions are a fundamental tool of the European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). They aim to bring changes in the policy, and they can target:

• Governments of non-European countries, because of their policies
• Entities that provide the methods to carry out targeted policies
• Groups and organizations such as terrorist groups
• Individuals that support targeted policies or involved in terrorist activities

These sanctions are established to minimize adverse consequences for those not responsible for the policies leading to the approval of sanctions.

Earlier this month, Brussels and Washington have sanctioned several Russian officials and businesses after finding out from the US intelligence that the Russian government is accountable for the attack against Alexei Navalny. Regarding this issue, the EU Council imposed restrictive measures against four Russian individuals.

The European Council also banned 19 Venezuelan officials in leading positions in Venezuela’s regime under the control of the dictator Nicolás Maduro from entering the territory of the European Member States and the Schengen Area countries in February 2021. The measures were taken in order to react against those violating human rights in Venezuela.