The new EU anti-Russian sanctions are aimed at hitting Russia's economy, finance, industry, and trade. The 14th package of sanctions was published today, June 24.
What's in the sanctions package?
Restrictions and prohibitions against 116 Russian individuals and legal entities. Personal sanctions have been imposed against 69 Russians: government officials, politicians, entrepreneurs, journalists, and artists.
They are prohibited from entering the European Union countries and transiting through its territories, and European citizens and companies are prohibited from providing them with financial resources. The list includes a wide variety of people: from the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Alexander Moiseev, to the singer Shaman.
47 large Russian enterprises and associations of various orientations were included in the list. In particular, these are:
- TsNIITOCHMASH (part of the Kalashnikov concern);
- the largest Russian cargo carrier Volga-Dnepr Airlines;
- FSUE "Zheleznodorogi Novorossii";
- Vostochnaya Stevedoring Company;
- International Children's Center "Artek";
- Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov Regional Public Fund;
- Belarusian Republican Youth Union;
- Belarusian Optical and Mechanical Association;
- Neftegazpromstroy;
- drilling company Eurasia;
- Ural Airlines.
The new sanctions also include:
- a ban on European banks outside of Russia using the SPFS financial messaging system, which is a Russian analogue of SWIFT. Banks in third countries that use this system may be subject to EU secondary sanctions;
- a ban on transactions with targeted credit and financial institutions and crypto-asset providers established outside the EU if these organizations "facilitate transactions supporting Russia's military-industrial base";
- restrictions on the transit of Russian liquefied natural gas through European ports for sale in third countries. They will come into force in 9 months;
- restrictions on the import of Russian LNG through EU terminals not connected to the natural gas system;
- a ban on investments, supplies of goods, technologies and services for the completion of Russian gas projects (Arctic LNG-2 and Murmansk LNG);
- a ban on EU airlines from operating charters and private flights worldwide at the request of individuals and legal entities from Russia;
- a ban on any irregular flights for Russians over the territory of the European Union;
- a ban on the export to Russia of manganese ores, several types of plastics, rare earth elements, electronic components;
- a ban on the import of helium from Russia;
- a ban on access to the EU territory from June 25 to three Russian media outlets — Izvestia, RIA Novosti and Rossiyskaya Gazeta, as well as the Voice of Europe project;
- a ban on European political parties, foundations, non-governmental organizations, think tanks and media from receiving funding from Russia and from Russia;
- restrictions on accepting applications for registration of intellectual property rights from Russian individuals and legal entities;
- provisions to support lawsuits by European companies to compensate for damage from Russia's retaliatory actions;
- a requirement for European companies to ensure that their subsidiaries in third countries do not circumvent sanctions against Russia;
- restrictions on the export to Russia of certain industrial goods that can be used for military purposes: flight recorders, all-terrain vehicles and other items;
- a requirement for companies registered in the EU and selling military goods to third countries to assess the risks of their re-export to Russia when conducting transactions.
The sanctions also affected 27 tankers suspected of transporting military equipment and liquefied gas in the interests of Russia. According to the EU, they transport Russian oil and petroleum products, ignoring the G7 price ceiling.
The EU also included 61 firms from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, the UAE and Turkey in the 14th package of sanctions. Restrictions on the export of dual-use technologies were imposed against them.
Russia's reaction
The Russian Foreign Ministry has already issued a statement, noting that the actions of the European Union are "illegitimate from the point of view of international law, since they are committed bypassing the UN Security Council, are absolutely hopeless and only undermine the confidence of the states of the Global Majority in the EU".
In response, the list of persons prohibited from entering Russia has been "significantly expanded". In particular, it included representatives of law enforcement, commercial and government structures of the EU countries, the Council of Europe, members of the legislative assemblies of the European Union countries and national delegations to the PACE, who "systematically stamp aggressive statements against the Russian Federation", citizens of the EU countries who advocate the confiscation of Russian state assets and other persons.
Russia confirms that any unfriendly actions on the part of Western countries will continue to not go unanswered.
Also, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova told IA "TASS" that Moscow has developed retaliatory measures to restrict access to Russian media in the European Union, and will announce them soon.
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