The European Union has proposed extending its sanctions against Russia to ports in Georgia and Indonesia where Russian oil is transhipped. This follows from the proposed sanctions published on Monday, which was reviewed by Reuters, writes TASR. This would be the first time that the Union would impose sanctions on ports in third countries.
- The European Union has proposed extending sanctions to Russian oil.
- Ports in Georgia and Indonesia are to be added to the sanctions list.
- The package includes bans on the import of various raw materials and metals from Russia.
The Georgian port of Kulevi and the Indonesian port of Karimun should be placed on the sanctions list, while companies and individuals from the EU would be prohibited from transacting with them.
A new package of sanctions
The proposed measures are part of the 20th package of EU sanctions in connection with Russia’s war against Ukraine, which was jointly prepared by the EU Diplomatic Service (EEAS) and the European Commission. Unanimous agreement of member states is required to adopt sanctions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the package includes across-the-board sector restrictions and a move from a G7 price ceiling to a total ban on maritime services for the transport of Russian oil.
The package also includes new bans on the import of metals including nickel, iron ore, copper and scrap metal, as well as salt, ammonia, natural stone material, silicon and furs.
Sanctions for third countries
The proposal envisages for the first time the use of an anti-circumvention tool against a third country, banning the export of certain machinery and communication equipment to Kyrgyzstan.
At the same time, the EU proposed including banks in Kyrgyzstan, Laos and Tajikistan on the sanctions list, for providing services to Russia. On the contrary, two Chinese banks should be removed from the list.
30 individuals and 64 companies, including banks, energy and industrial companies, as well as persons accused by the EU of supporting Russian aggression against Ukraine, could also be on the sanctions list. These include Bashneft, a publicly traded subsidiary of the Russian oil group Rosneft, as well as eight Russian refineries, including two large plants controlled by Rosneft located in the cities of Tuapse and Syzran. However, the proposal does not yet concern the companies Rosneft or Lukoil themselves, which are already subject to United States sanctions.
Persons and companies on the list
As Rádio Sloboda (RFE/RL) specified on Tuesday, the list should also include the head of the Russian radiation, chemical and biological defense forces, Alexei Rtishchev, and his deputy Andrej Marchenko.
Timur Shagivaleyev, director of the Alabuga special economic zone, may also be subject to restrictions. According to the EU, the Shahid attack drones used by the Russian army in attacks on Ukraine are manufactured in Alabuga.
Vladimir Lepin, CEO of the Kalashnikov concern, as well as top managers of Rostech subsidiaries are also listed in the sanctions proposal.
In the field of culture and sports, the Russian rapper Timati, real name Timur Yunusov, who is accused by the EU of spreading Russian propaganda, should be on the list. The list also includes Russian Deputy Minister of Culture Sergey Obryvalin, whom the EU accuses of participating in the confiscation of Ukrainian cultural monuments and issuing permits for archaeological work on the Crimean peninsula. Sanctions could also affect the director of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Mikhail Piotrovsky, for “supporting Russian aggression against Ukraine.”
The document also features economist and president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Arkady Dvorkovič, president of the Russian Wrestling Federation Mikhail Mamiashvili, president of the Russian Olympic Committee Stanislav Pozdňakov and boxer Fyodor Chudinov.
Financial and oil companies from Russia are included in a separate bloc of EU sanctions. About 20 more Russian banks should be on the list, including the largest: Russkij standart, Avangard, Počta Bank and Metallinvestbank. Prohibition of transactions may lead to their disconnection from the international SWIFT system.
EU foreign ministers are expected to approve the 20th package of sanctions by February 24, 2026, four years since the beginning of the Russian military invasion of Ukraine.
