On Wednesday 1 June (case T-723/20), the EU General Court upheld the restrictive measures adopted by the EU Council in October 2020, and extended in July 2021, against Russian businessman Yevgeniy Prigozhin, who has close links with the Wagner Group, which is involved in military operations in Libya (see EUROPE 12582/32).
Mr Prigozhin asked the General Court to annul the EU Council’s decisions, alleging, inter alia, a breach of the obligation to state reasons for the decisions, inadmissibility of the evidence produced, incorrect assessment of the facts, misuse of powers and violation of his fundamental rights. The General Court rejected all of Mr Prigozhin’s arguments and confirmed the EU Council’s decisions.
Thus, the General Court considers that there was no evidence in the file that could call into question the reliability of the sources used by the EU Council.
According to it, “the evidence file contains concrete, precise and concordant elements establishing the close and multiple relations that Mr Prigozhin has with the Wagner group”, adding that the documents produced contain “precise and concordant information” on the activities of the Wagner group “threatening peace, security and stability in Libya”.
Mr Prigozhin is also sanctioned by the EU for his role in the conflict in Ukraine (see EUROPE 12936/12).
See the General Court’s judgment:https://aeur.eu/f/1we (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)