Brussels, 09/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - Several European sources have told this newsletter that on Wednesday 9 March, member states' ambassadors to the EU decided to extend for six months sanctions against 146 individuals and 37 bodies that have taken action against the territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine (see EUROPE 11388).
The individuals against whom sanctions are issued include the deputy Russian prime minister, Dmitri Rogozin, advisor to the Russian president Sergey Glazyev, first vice-defence minister Arkady Bakhin and vice-defence minister Anatoly Antonov. Members of the Duma and the Council of the Russian Federation, people responsible for Russia's annexation of Crimea and the main leaders of the Popular Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk are also subject to restrictions. Three individuals who have now died have been removed from the list. The current sanctions take effect on 15 March.
A European source says the Justice and Home Affairs Council will officially adopt the prolongation on Thursday 10 March and the legal acts will then be published in the Official Journal on Saturday 12 March. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)