EU sanctions against Russia

Main article: Foreign sanctions against Russian citizens and companies

2024

Confiscation of Russia's income from assets frozen in the EU for transfer to Ukraine

The EU summit approved the European Commission's program to confiscate income from frozen Russian assets. The seized funds are planned to be used to partially finance the €50 billion budget assistance program to Ukraine - a statement.

Revenues from Russian assets will be directed to a special fund created for the period from 2024 to 2027. The total amount of funds will be 50 billion euros, of which 33 billion will be provided in the form of loans, and 17 billion - free of charge.

The funds of the fund will be managed by representatives of the European Council on the basis of consultations with the Ukrainian side. An additional 1.5 billion euros will be transferred to the European Defense Fund (EDF) to strengthen security in the EU.

The EU has included Alrosa and its general director Pavel Marinichev in the sanctions list

In January 2024 EU , he included the Russian company ALROSA"," the largest in the world in terms of diamond production, and its general director Pavel Marinichev on the sanctions list in response to the ongoing special operation Russia on. To Ukraine

The inclusion announced on January 3 is part of the G7 ban on imports of Russian diamonds, which entered into force on January 1. The ban does not apply to Russian diamonds processed in third countries, but this exception will be gradually lifted by September 1 this year.

By including Alrosa and its head in the list, the EU seeks to "deprive Russia of this important source of income," wrote EU Foreign Minister Josep Borrell. Alrosa's assets in the block will be frozen along with those of its head, who will also be subject to a travel ban.

2023

The European Union imposed sanctions against BI.Zone, InfoTeCS and Informzaschita

The European Union, by its regulations^[1] imposed sanctions against a number of Russian companies and individuals. The black list includes operators, and developers of protective equipment, and factories, and enterprises of the microelectronic industry, and developers of aviation technology, and scientific institutes, and media, and even Rosfinmonitoring.

The most indicative is the information security sector, where sanctions have been imposed against such fairly large companies as BI.Zone, InfoTeCS and Informzaschita. Moreover, the claims that the European Union blames on these companies are standard:

{{quote 'Bison LLC is a legal entity working in the Russian information technology sector, including in the field of database and information management, as well as the construction of long-distance communication lines. Bison LLC is licensed by the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB).

The FSB license, which is owned by Bison LLC, is issued to IT companies developing encryption and cryptography technologies, information systems and telecommunications complexes for Russian intelligence services, as well as IT companies developing personal database management systems for Russian security services (i.e., tools specifically designed to store, extract and manage large amounts of data obtained, for example, through social media analysis or other intelligence gathering methods).

Thus, Bison LLC is a legal entity operating in the Russian information technology sector, having a license under the jurisdiction of the Center for Licensing, Certification and Protection of State Secrets of the FSB.}}

There are some contradictions in this text itself. In particular, it is said that Bison is engaged in the management of databases and information and, unexpectedly, the construction of long-distance communication lines, but the license was issued allegedly for the development of encryption and cryptography technologies - this is the basis for the imposition of sanctions. At the same time, in Russia it is forbidden to engage in information protection activities without an appropriate set of licenses - these legislative requirements are complied with by BI.Zone. However, now compliance with local legislation is the reason for conducting sanctions. Representatives of BI.Zone declined to comment on being on the sanctions list.

Similar claims were brought against the companies Informzaschita and InfoTeCS, but the latter, at least indeed, is developing cryptographic means of protecting information. Thus, it is the FSB license issued within the framework of legislative requirements that is the justification for the imposition of sanctions.

Initially, the license for conducting certain activities is a tool for publicly confirming the high qualifications of the company and should be open, but now there is a situation when some categories of the license, apparently, should be partially hidden - at least at the level of chipboard. The relevant registries of licensees, which are now public, also seem to have to be hidden. So you shouldn't be surprised if in the near future information about companies that are engaged in information security is partially classified.

12 EU sanctions package with restrictions on diamond imports

Since January 1, 2024, the EU has imposed restrictions on the import of non-industrial diamonds mined, processed or produced in Russia. From March 1, 2024, phased restrictions on the import of Russian diamonds processed in third countries will begin.

• The EU has eased a number of restrictions on Russians, including on the import of personal items. It is also allowed to enter the countries of the union from Russia cars of European citizens and cars with diplomatic numbers.

• For the first time, the EU included in the sanctions regime against the Russian Federation the possibility of confiscating the financial assets of a legal entity or an individual.

• Introduces restrictions on the import from Russia of aluminum products, including wire, foil, pipes.

• New EU sanctions provide for additional measures to comply with the so-called. "Price ceiling" for Russian oil.

• The EU also obliged European companies to stipulate in contracts with partners a ban on the re-export of a number of dual-use goods to Russia.

• Obliged its banks to notify regulators about financial transfers of EU citizens to any other countries.

• The EU, as part of the 12th package of sanctions, introduces a ban on the import of liquefied propane with a 12-month transition period.

• The EU obliged all community countries to inform the European Commission about the sale of tankers to Russia as part of the 12th package of sanctions.

• The EU has banned Russian citizens from holding senior positions in European companies associated with. cryptocurrencies

• Switzerland has joined EU sanctions bans on steel and iron as part of the 12th sanctions package.

EU imposes sanctions on Positive Technologies

On June 23, 2023, the European Union published a sanctions list as part of the 11th package. Positive Technologies, which has also been under US sanctions since 2021, fell under the new sanctions. The document was published in the official EU journal and entered into force. Read more here.

2022

EU bans drone shipments to Russia, including through third countries

On December 7, 2022, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced the ninth package of sanctions against Russia. One of the restrictions involves a direct ban on the supply of drones and their components to the Russian Federation, as well as restricting supplies to third countries that could potentially sell them to Russia (for example, to Iran).

We will close Russia's access to all kinds of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles. We propose to ban the direct export of drone engines to Russia and exports to any third countries, the document published by the European Commission says.

A number of politicians in Europe criticize the EU sanctions policy against Russia, calling it ineffective and harmful to the economies of the European states themselves, which, in turn, leads to a decrease in living standards and an increase in social tension. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that all of Europe expects an answer from Brussels how long the sanctions will continue, and called for negotiations on this topic with the United States "before it is too late."

Earlier, the United States imposed sanctions against Iranian drone manufacturers. The US Treasury suggests that these companies supply drones for the private military company (PMC) Wagner.

Prior to that, the European Union (EU) also imposed sanctions on the company manufacturing drones Shahed Aviation Industries. In Russia, the fact of their supplies from Iran is denied.

Combat drones not only help to scout the area, but also strike where it is dangerous to send infantry or aircraft. The presence of a large fleet of UAVs capable of solving the most difficult tasks is one of the main signs of the advanced air force. Russia for the development of this industry occupies one of the leading places in the world.^[2]

17.73 billion euros frozen in the EU 1,239 individuals and 116 companies from Russia

According to new data for November 2022, the largest number of assets is frozen in Belgium (3.5 billion euros), Luxembourg (almost 2.5 billion euros), Italy (2.3 billion euros), Germany (2.2 billion euros), Austria and Ireland (1.8 billion euros each), France (1.3 billion euros) and Spain (more than 1 billion euros).

Together, they make up about 90% of the €17.73bn of assets that have been frozen across the EU. The assets are owned by 1,239 individuals and 116 sanctioned companies.

EU bans export of IT consulting services to Russia

On October 6, 2022, the European Union approved the eighth package of sanctions against Russia. One of the restrictions concerns the ban on the export of IT consulting services to the Russian Federation.

As Kommersant writes with reference to the official EU magazine, IT consulting for the purposes of European sanctions means consulting services related to setting up computer networks, installing hardware and software or assisting in installation, as well as consulting on the development and implementation of software. The ban on the provision of these and a number of other services, in particular legal ones, is intended to "weaken Russia's industrial capabilities," the European Commission said.

The bans will affect, among other things, IT specialists who have been released to the EU and earn money from the provision of services to Russian companies. Such services, as one of the experts noted, will become criminalized in the EU. He admitted that it is not Russian legal entities that can now become customers of services, but companies affiliated with them from neighboring countries, but this is risky and can be regarded as an attempt to circumvent sanctions. It can also lead to an increase in the price of services in IT.

Kommersant's interlocutors believe that technical support and warranty service will not fall under the new bans. But they admit that cloud service providers can refuse to cooperate with customers from Russia. According to market participants, lawyers of European IT companies, even before the expansion of sanctions, forbade concluding any contracts with legal entities from Russia for reinsurance in case the partner falls under sanctions in the future.

{{quote 'They not only assess existing laws, but also insure against risks in the future. Today, the partner is not under sanctions, but tomorrow - will fall under them, - said a newspaper source in one of the gaming companies.^[3] }}

EU intends to ban the import of smartphones into Russia

On September 24, 2022, the European Union proposed tightening sanctions against Russia. The next package of restrictions may contain a ban on the export of dozens of high-tech goods, including smartphones, radar equipment and laser equipment.

According to EUobserver, several countries have issued a proposal in a joint package on what else can be sanctioned. These states are Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Ireland.

In particular, it is proposed to introduce a ban on the use of Kaspersky Lab technologies within Europe and prohibit EU firms from doing IT work for Russian customers.

In addition, the proposals say that Russian creditors, Gazprombank Alfa-Bank, Rosbank Tinkoff Bank should be disconnected from the international one. payment system Swift

Other proposals relate to a ban on transactions with diamonds from Russia, on the import of EU and US banknotes into the Russian Federation, on the sale of real estate to Russians. "It is forbidden to buy, import or transfer, directly or indirectly, diamonds... if they come from Russia and if they were exported from Russia to the European Union or to any third country "of the EU. Exports of Russian diamonds are estimated at 4 billion euros per year.

In addition, it is proposed to take off the air three Russian television companies (NTV Mir, Ren TV and Russia 1), as well as restrict access to Internet resources NewsFront, SouthFront, the Katehon analytical center, the Strategic Culture Foundation and the Information Agency The^[4]

EU blocks assets of Russians, Russian companies and the Central Bank of the Russian Federation for 85.7 billion euros

By August 2022, European countries had blocked the assets of Russians, Russian companies and the Bank of Russia for at least 85.7 billion euros, the BBC writes. In Switzerland - by 6.9 billion euros, as well as 15 real estate objects Waugh France - assets worth 24 billion euros. B - Germany by 4.28 billion euros. Most of all in - Belgium by 50.5 billion euros. A depository is located in Belgium. Euroclear

EU bans European cloud services in Russia

In early June 2022, the European Union agreed on the sixth package of sanctions against the Russian Federation. One of the restrictions concerns the ban on the provision of cloud services by European companies in Russia.

As explained by Karen Ghazaryan, Director General of the Institute for Internet Research, there is no reason for concern for ordinary users in Russia, since EU sanctions affect European services.

These are primarily solutions for business. But none of these services already provide services for Russian customers, starting in March 2022. Therefore, what fundamental changes can be made by new EU measures is not entirely clear, he said.

According to Ghazaryan, there are no risks of making such a decision by the United States either. The expert recalled that in April 2022, the United States excluded the Internet industry from sanctions. Cooperation with the Russian Federation remains possible in the field of supply and creation of equipment and software for telecommunication purposes.

Among other things, American companies are allowed to supply directly and through intermediaries of software, equipment, technologies, as well as services necessary for telecommunications exchange on the Internet. These categories include instant messengers, domain name registration, social networks, blog platforms, search engines and services for exchanging and storing information.

The sixth package of EU sanctions against Russia also involves a ban on consulting, audit and PR services for the Russian Federation. First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov, commenting on the new sanctions, noted that Europeans have already lost interest in new economic measures that continue to intimidate Russia. The senator stressed that anti-Russian sanctions did not bring anything good to the West.^[5]

Sixth package of sanctions: embargo on oil imports and disconnection of 3 banks from SWIFT

On June 3, 2022, the EU Council completed the procedure for approving the sixth package of sanctions against the Russian Federation, adopted against the background of Russia's special operation in Ukraine. It involves the refusal of the Union countries from the import of Russian oil within 6 months, from the import of petroleum products within 8 months. A temporary exception was made only for pipeline oil. The package also includes:

• Disconnection from the SWIFT system of three Russian banks: Sberbank, Moscow Credit Bank and Rosselkhozbank.
• The ban on broadcasting three Russian media: "Russia 24," "RTR Planet" and "TV Center."
• Ban on the import into Russia of chemicals (80 chemicals that "can be used to produce chemical weapons") and high-tech goods
• Ban on the provision of accounting services, public relations services and consulting services, as well as cloud services to Russia.
• Also, representatives of Russian security forces, businessmen and media representatives fall under the new EU sanctions. The list of persons or their number is not indicated by the EU Council.

Russian production of civilian microcircuits under threat due to new sanctions

European Union developed the fifth package of anti-Russian sanctions, adopted in April 2022, which could deal a very tangible blow to to Russian the production of microcircuits. This became known on April 12, 2022. At electronic engineers the same time, these prohibitions may not affect the military (special forces equipment).

The old world introduces a ban on the supply of pure silicon and a number of other materials to Russia, as well as production equipment, which have nothing to replace in Russia yet.

The authors of the sanctions compiled a list of goods prohibited for import into Russia, based on whether they are used to "improve the military and technological potential of Russia." It is for this reason that silicon, containing at least 99.99% of pure raw materials, was also on the list.

Imported high-purity silicon is used in the country to produce microcircuits even through an ancient 90nm process technology, a spokesman for an unnamed Russian chip manufacturer said. According to him, now, after the introduction of the fifth package of European sanctions, China is the only supplier of this material.

The only question now is how reliable China will be.

In Russia as such, there is no production of silicon wafers necessary for the production of civilian microelectronics, that is, used by ordinary consumers. For example, such production is established at the facilities of Solar Silicon Technologies - it is engaged in the production of single-crystal and multicrystalline plates. But the bulk of the products are supplied to companies engaged in the field of solar power.

Russia has its own silicon deposits. There are also companies capable of processing it, but Russia cannot completely abandon imported material.

Silicon processing in the country is carried out, in particular, by Rusal Silicon Ural (Sverdlovsk Region) and Silicon Group (Bryansk), moreover, the latter, like Solar Silicon Technologies from Podolsk, also produces silicon plates. However, it focuses on the production of integrated circuits and power modules.

But civil microelectronics may not get domestic silicon at all. The same Rusal Silicon Ural has been producing silicon since the summer of 2021, but does not ship its products to third-party companies. The company uses all material for the production of primary aluminum alloys.

Solar Silicon Technology concentrates on the solar power market. The production of high-purity single-crystal silicon in Russia has also been established by NIIP Rosatom, but it is not yet known whether it will provide products to manufacturers of user electronics.

Russia does not have to count on foreign manufacturers of consumer microelectronics. countries the Taiwan Even the company turned away from the sanctions. In TSMC particular, at the end of February 2022, it completely curtailed the production of Russian processors Baikal and "." Elbrus It is impossible to establish their production in Russia - there are no companies in the country that have mastered at least a 28-nanometer technical process, not to mention more current production standards^[6]

Hungary's veto on part of EU sanctions against Russia

Budapest will veto EU sanctions on Russian gas imports, the introduction of a no-fly zone over Ukraine and the EU peacekeeping mission - Foreign Minister Petr Siyarto, March 21, 2022 against the background of Russia's special operation in Ukraine.

Russia bypasses Iran and North Korea to become world's most sanctioned country in 10 days

As a result of the active actions of the United States and European allies, which began on February 22 after Russia recognized the DPR and LPR, Russia was subject to 2,778 new sanctions, bringing its number to more than 5,530, according to Castellum. ai, a global database for tracking sanctions.

According to this indicator, Russia bypassed Iran, against which 3,616 sanctions were imposed in ten years, mainly for its nuclear program and support for terrorism.

"This is a financial nuclear war and the biggest sanctions event in history," said Peter Piatecki, a former Treasury Department official in the Obama and Trump administrations who co-founded Castellum. ai.

2021: Assets of Russian and Ukrainian individuals and legal entities for €4 million frozen in the EU

The total amount of assets of Russian and Ukrainian individuals and legal entities frozen in the EU in connection with the sanctions imposed in 2014 is €3.5-4 million, of which the most was blocked in Cyprus - €3.1 million (at the end of 2018). This was announced during a meeting in the Bundestag in January 2021 by Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Minister of Economy and power of the Federal Republic of Germany, referring to the European Commission database on frozen assets.

2020

Russia will mirror EU sanctions for alleged cyber attacks

On August 1, 2020, it became known that Moscow would give a mirror response to the introduction by the European Union of sanctions against Russian citizens and organizations in connection with their alleged involvement in cyber attacks. This was reported on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

Of course, the unfriendly action of the EU will not be left unanswered. As you know, everything is mirrored in diplomacy, - emphasized on Smolenskaya Square.

Everything was done unproven, under the far-fetched pretext of involvement in some cyber incidents that took place in the past. The political background of this move is obvious, "the statement said.

The department believes that Brussels chooses a policy of unilateral pressure and restrictions instead of a serious conversation to resolve disagreements and increase mutual trust. Moscow several times offered the European Union to establish a dialogue on issues of concern in the information sphere, the Foreign Ministry said.

This approach does not lead the world to the "rules-based order" that our EES partners love to talk about, forgetting about the central role of the UN, but, on the contrary, to political confrontations and cyberhaos, the ministry emphasized[7].

The European Union imposed sanctions against four Russians named by GRU officers. They are accused of cyber attacks

On July 30, 2020, the European Union imposed sanctions against four Russians named by GRU officers. They are accused of cyber attacks.

According to a report in the official EU journal, Alexey Minin, Alexey Morenets, Evgeny Serebryakov and Oleg Sotnikov fell under restrictions. The European Union also imposed sanctions on the Main Center for Special Technologies (GCST) of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (formerly GRU).

Minin, Morenza, Serebryakov and Sotnikov are accused of involvement in an attempt to hack the Wi-Fi network of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in April 2018. Then, EU representatives recalled, a cyber attack was prevented, but  if successful, it could interfere with the security of the network and the investigations carried out by the OPCW.

The NCST is suspected of collaborating with the Sandworm Team hacker group, which attacked Ukrainian government agencies in 2017 with. Serebryakova and virus extortioner NotPetya Morenza, among others, were also suspected  of hacking the World Anti-Doping Agency in March 2017.

It is clarified that the imposed sanctions include a travel ban and an asset freeze. In addition, individuals and legal entities of the EU are prohibited from providing funds to sanctioned persons.

The introduction by the European Union of sanctions against Russian individuals and legal entities allegedly for cyber attacks shows the unfriendness of Europe towards Moscow, said   Vladimir Dzhabarov, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs.

Also, according to him, in its restrictions, Europe acts as a structure fully subordinate to the American authorities.

The sanctions list includes two Chinese citizens and two companies from the PRC. According to EU authorities, they may have been involved in cyber attacks by the Chinese hacker group APT 10 and the Operation Cloud Hopper campaign to spy and collect classified information.^[8]

2019: MEP asks European Commission for written explanations on Kaspersky Lab's malware

On March 6, 2019, MEP Gerolf Annemans requested explanations from the European Commission regarding the 2018 European Parliament resolution, which stated that Kaspersky Lab's developments were allegedly recognized as malicious. Annemans' request is official, and, accordingly, officials of the highest executive body of the European Union will have to give detailed written explanations. Read more here.

2018

Cyprus closes Russian accounts due to sanctions

Cypriot banks began to close the accounts of Russian citizens under pressure from the American financial authorities. They are forced to transfer funds to RCB (Russian Commercial Bank), 46% of which belongs to VTB. This was announced in May 2018 by the Fun & Profit Telegram channel.

This situation began to develop immediately after the OFAC delegation (Office of the Ministry of Finance USA for Foreign Assets Control) visited the island - this department oversees sanctions against Russian oligarchs. American the regulator demanded to close Russian accounts. Otherwise, Cyprus would be accused of corruption and money laundering. Such accusations by the United States have already led to the bankruptcy of the Latvian bank ABLV.

At the end of the 2000s, the American financial authorities managed to put pressure even on Swiss banks, as a result of which Swiss bank secrecy in its classical sense ceased to exist.

Analysts believe that other offshore companies will also come under US pressure and will have to give up money from Russians.

AEB and GfK: 86% of European companies consider sanctions against Russia harmful to their business

In 2018, the Comprehensive Index - AEBGfK reflecting the mood of European business in Russia, decreased by 3 points compared to 2017 and amounted to 138 points out of 200 possible.

According to the survey results, long-term (6-10 years) and medium-term (3-5 years) economic prospects remain at a high level. As for the short-term perspective (1-2 years), most companies expect either growth or stagnation of the Russian economy.

According to the study participants, the most negative impact on the activities of European companies in Russia was had by sanctions against the Russian Federation and the results of the US presidential elections (86% and 70% of respondents, respectively). Compared to 2017, the share of those who negatively assess the impact of these factors on the company's activities, as well as on the Russian economy, has increased.

The impact of the economic policy of the Government of the Russian Federation on the activities of the company is assessed neutrally or positively by 61% of the surveyed companies, and 34% - negatively. Most AEB member companies note that they do not expect changes in Russia's current economic policy after the elections in 2018.

Due to negative external factors, the share of those who expect a decrease in investment in Russia as a whole increased from 11% in 2017 to 36% in 2018. However, most companies expect investments in their industries to remain unchanged.

"Most European companies were pleased with both the results of 2017 and the beginning of the first quarter of 2018. However, weak growth in the Russian economy introduces an effect of uncertainty. One of the most destabilizing factors was the sanctions risks that poison the generally positive business climate for European companies in Russia, "notes Frank Schauff, General Director of the Association of European Businesses.

"European companies in Russia continue to believe in the Russian market. In 2018, almost two-thirds of companies expect an increase in profit, while in 2017 there were slightly more than half of them, "comments Alexander Demidov, CEO of GfK Rus.

2016: EU extends economic sanctions against Russia

The European Union officially extended in December 2016 economic sanctions against Russia for six months, imposed due to the situation in Ukraine. The sanctions target the finance, power and defense sectors, as well as the "dual" industry, and will remain in effect until July 31, 2017.

"Since the Minsk agreements were not fully implemented by December 31, 2015, the Council extended the sanctions until July 31, 2016, and then until January 31, 2017. Assessing the implementation of the Minsk agreements at the EU summit on December 15, the heads of state and government paved the way for the extension of sanctions for another 6 months, until July 31, 2017, "the Council explained, adding that this decision was formalized through a written procedure

.

In mid-September, the European Union extended for six months the black list of individuals and organizations of Russia and Ukraine. The list includes representatives of the Russian leadership, politicians, businessmen and security officials, as well as almost the entire leadership of the proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR).

Notes