The ambassadors of the EU Member States decided on Wednesday 4 March to lift the freeze on the assets of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and former Energy Minister Eduard Stavitski.
They have been sanctioned since 2014, after being identified as being responsible for the misappropriation of Ukrainian public funds or guilty of abuse of power causing a loss to Ukrainian public funds.
On the other hand, the ambassadors extended for 12 months the freeze on the assets of former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, six former ministers, and two of their relatives, and for 6 months on those of Mr Yanukovych’s son, Oleksandr.
The Court of Justice of the EU has repeatedly denounced the inclusion on the EU sanctions list of several persons found responsible for the misappropriation of Ukrainian public funds or guilty of abuse of power causing a loss to Ukrainian public funds. Nevertheless, these decisions should be formally adopted by the EU Council as early as 5 March, as the restrictive measures are in force until 6 March.
In addition, the Ambassadors agreed to extend for 6 months the sanctions against 175 individuals and 44 entities found responsible for violations of the territorial integrity of Ukraine. The EU Council is expected to endorse this decision on 12 March. These sanctions are in effect until 15 March 2020. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)