More than 1600 names: EU agrees on largest sanctions against Russia
The European Union will soon add 1,646 new names to the list of sanctions against Russia. Among them are 77 deputies who were candidates in the State Duma elections held in the occupied territories of Ukraine in September.
More than 1600 names: EU reaches agreement on largest sanctions against Russia
This decision was made amid an alarmingly increasing threat of hybrid attacks against Europe, Euronews reported.
The agreement reached by ambassadors in Brussels on October 7 concerns 743 individuals and 826 organizations accused of supporting Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The ambassadors reached the agreement after several weeks of discussions and legal reviews. The review process was particularly intense due to the very large number of names. The agreement will be officially approved once foreign ministers meet in Luxembourg. Following this, the list of sanctioned individuals and organizations will be made public.
It is reported that the sanctions entail entry bans, asset freezes, and a prohibition on providing financial resources. It is noted that EU member states sought to finalize the agreement quickly in order to show solidarity against the backdrop of consecutive hybrid attacks, some of which are said to have been organized by Russia.
Work on the new sanctions list had already begun following the drone incident at Germany's Leipzig airport.
"Countries are free to propose names to be included in the sanctions list. However, the final decision is still made by EU countries," said EU High Representative Kaja Kallas.