28/02/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 28 February, the ambassadors of the 28 EU member states (Coreper) agreed to prolong the sanctions against 13 people, including Ukraine's former president Viktor Yanukovych, all accused of embezzling funds of the Ukrainian state and illegally transferring them out of Ukraine, a European source told EUROPE. Two people were withdrawn from the list of people subject to an assets freeze. These are reportedly the former justice minister, Olena Leonidivna Lukash, and businessman Serhii Kliuiev. The prolongation, for 12 months, could be officially adopted, without debate, at the Environment Council on Monday 5 March. The sanctions run until 6 March 2018. These sanctions, which were initially taken out on 5 March and 15 April 2014, concerned 22 people at that time (see EUROPE 11033). (CG)