On Thursday 21 July, the European Union adopted its seventh package of sanctions against Russia.
The measures include a ban on the purchase, import or transfer, directly or indirectly, of gold if it originates from Russia and if it has been exported from Russia to the EU or to any third country. Jewellery is also affected. This is Russia’s most important export after energy, said the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. Jewellery intended for the personal use of natural persons travelling to the European Union or their close relatives travelling with them, which belongs to them and is not intended for sale, is not affected.
In addition, the list of controlled goods that may contribute to Russia’s military and technological strengthening or to the development of its defence and security sector is expanded, thereby strengthening export controls on advanced and dual-use technologies.
The package also extends the ban on access to ports and locks to prevent circumvention of sanctions. It also extends the scope of the ban on accepting deposits to include those from legal persons, entities or bodies established in third countries and majority owned by Russian nationals or natural persons residing in Russia. The acceptance of deposits for non-prohibited cross-border trade will be subject to prior authorisation by the competent national authorities.
The EU is also clarifying a number of existing measures, notably in the field of public procurement, aviation and justice. For example, technical assistance to Russia for aviation goods and technology will be allowed to the extent that it is necessary to preserve the technical and industrial standardisation work of the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the prohibition on transactions with Russian state entities will be slightly modified to ensure access to justice.
In addition, the package extends the exemption of transactions for agricultural products and the transfer of oil to third countries. Specifically, the EU has decided to allow transactions with certain public entities on pharmaceutical, medical, agricultural and food products, including wheat and fertilisers.
54 persons and 10 additional entities sanctioned
The EU also adopted restrictive measures against 54 additional individuals and 10 entities in response to the ongoing Russian military aggression against Ukraine.
The entities include the Russian bank Sberbank, whose assets are frozen, preventing it from carrying out transactions outside Russia, but also a nationalist motorcycle club, the Nightwolves, companies active in the military sector (Kvant JSC) or shipbuilding (FORSS) or involved in the stealing of Ukrainian grain, as well as entities that have disseminated pro-Kremlin and anti-Ukrainian propaganda
Those on the list include members of the state and provinces, including the Russian First Deputy Prime Minister, Andrey Belousov, and the First Deputy Director of the Russian FSB, Sergei Korolev, local politicians such as the Mayor of Moscow, senior military leaders and personnel, including the Chief of Staff of the Russian National Guard troops, Yuriy Yashin, and deputy directors of the Federal National Guard Service. Appointed politicians in the Russian-invaded Ukrainian territories, including the ‘mayors’ of Mariupol, Kherson and Enerhodar, members of the Nightwolves, propagandists, including the actor Vladimir Mashkov, who appeared in the film ‘Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol’, prominent businessmen and members of their families are also sanctioned.
In addition, the EU has taken further measures against the Syrian regime for its support, including military support, for the Russian war in Ukraine. For example, six individuals and one entity involved in the recruitment of Syrian mercenaries to fight in Ukraine alongside Russian troops are subject to restrictive measures. They are the Syrian private security company Al Sayyad Company for Guarding and Protection Services Ltd., its co-owner and director and four military personnel.
In total, 1,212 individuals and 108 entities have been sanctioned for their activities that undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.
See the legal acts: https://aeur.eu/f/2pt ; https://aeur.eu/f/2pu (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)