Petras Auštrevičius MEP (ALDE, Lithuania) has brought together 45 MEPs of 17 different nationalities and from five political groups (the EPP, ALDE, S&D, Greens/EFA and ECR) as well as non-attached, to "urge" the EU to expand the package of its restrictive measures "in respect of Kremlin-linked individuals and entities".
In their letter of Thursday 26 April that was sent to the heads of state and government of the EU member states, the presidents of the European Commission and European Council, Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk respectively, and to High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, the MEPs say they are "absolutely convinced that as long as the Kremlin’s regime does not change its aggressive behaviour, additional restrictive measures need to be imposed on Russian individuals and businesses with links to the regime".
They propose new sanctions "in the form of a Magnitsky Act" that "specifically target those Russian tycoons and oligarchs who shelter and launder illicit funds in (EU) member states" (see EUROPE 11998).
The 45 MEPs justify the need for measures as being due to Moscow's non-respect of the Minsk agreement, support for the Syrian regime, repression of "what remains of the country’s democratic opposition and independent media", massive cyberattacks and propaganda campaigns, and the Salisbury attack. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)