Brussels, 05/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 5 March, the Council of Ministers of the EU adopted by written procedure sanctions against 18 people considered guilty of embezzling public funds in Ukraine.
As from Thursday 6 March, the date of this decision's publication in the Official Journal, the assets of these people inside the EU will be frozen. The measures adopted include provisions that facilitate the recovery of the funds frozen, “once certain conditions are met”.
Initially, the sanctions will only include the freezing of assets and not a visa ban for travelling in the EU, as originally envisaged. The measures will be in force for a period of 12 months. To prevent these assets being fast taken out, the EU has not indicated which individuals will be subject to sanctions but it is likely that the list could contain the name of ousted president Viktor Yanukovych. (CG)