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);
- Volga-Dnepr Airlines, the largest Russian cargo carrier;
- FSUE "Railways of Novorossiya";
- Vostochnaya Stevedoring Company;
- Artek International Children's Camp;
- Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov Regional Public Fund;
- Belarusian Republican Youth Union;
- Belarusian Optical and Mechanical Association;
- Neftegazpromstroy;
- Eurasia Drilling Company;
- Ural Airlines.
The new sanctions also include:
- a ban on European banks outside of Russia from 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 secondary EU sanctions;
- a ban on transactions with targeted credit and financial institutions and crypto-asset providers established outside the EU if these organizations "facilitate transactions that support Russia's defense industrial base";
- restrictions on the transit of Russian liquefied natural gas through European ports for sale in third countries. They will enter 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 around the world on behalf 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, and electronic components;
- a ban on the import of helium from Russia;
- a ban on access to three Russian media outlets — Izvestia, RIA Novosti, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta — as well as the Voice of Europe project in the EU from June 25;
- a ban on European political parties, foundations, non-governmental organizations, think tanks and media outlets 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 damages 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.
27 tankers suspected of transporting military equipment and liquefied gas in the interests of Russia were also sanctioned. 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 have been imposed against them.
Russia's reaction
The Russian Foreign Ministry has already issued a statement noting that the European Union's actions are "illegitimate from the point of view of international law, since they are carried out bypassing the UN Security Council, are absolutely futile and only undermine the confidence of the Global Majority states in the EU".
In response, "significantly expanded" the list of persons prohibited from entering Russia. In particular, it included representatives of law enforcement, commercial and government structures of EU countries, the Council of Europe, members of legislative assemblies of EU countries and national delegations to the PACE, who "systematically stamp aggressive statements against the Russian Federation", citizens of EU countries who advocate the confiscation of Russian state assets and other persons.
Russia confirms that any unfriendly actions by Western countries will continue to be met with a proper response.
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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