EU adopts new package of sanctions against Russia

The European Union (EU) on Monday adopted new sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, which according to diplomats includes magnate Roman Abramovich on the list of Russian citizens affected by the restrictions.

The rotating presidency of the European Council tweeted that representatives of the bloc countries in Brussels reached agreement with a fourth package of sanctions against individuals and companies “involved in the assault on Ukraine”.

The measures “will enter into force as soon as they are published in the Official Journal of the European Union”, the French presidency of the Council of the EU said on Twitter. The publication is expected to take place on Tuesday.

Three diplomats in Brussels told AFP that Abramovich, a Russian billionaire who owns the English football club Chelsea, had been added to the list.

The property of these tycoons on EU territory - including luxurious yachts and mansions - could be seized.

The United Kingdom and Canada have already included Abramovich on their own lists of sanctioned Russian citizens.

The UK's announcement to sanction Abramovich even paralyzed an attempt by the Russian tycoon to sell the Chelsea club.

According to one of the diplomats consulted by AFP, the stated reason for sanctioning Abramovich is that he is a “Russian oligarch who has close and prolonged ties with [President] Vladimir Putin”, to whom he has “privileged access”.

In addition, it is considered to provide “a substantial source of income” to the Russian government.

- There are no “untouchables” -

Over the weekend, the 140-meter-long Solaris super yacht owned by Abramovich was seen arriving at a port in Montenegro, a country that is not part of the EU but has the ambition to join it.

The ship had left Barcelona a few days earlier.

Abramovich, 55, has an estimated fortune of $12.4 billion (about 11.3 billion euros), according to Forbes magazine, and is rumored to own half a dozen yachts.

The Russian magnate also adopted Portuguese and Israeli nationalities.

European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said on Monday that “there is no one untouchable, as you will see, this list of oligarchs is continuously expanding, but not only with magnates, but also state and high-level military officials from Russia.”

Dombrovskis added that people considered “active in Russia's propaganda machine” were also on the list.

Russia's economy is forecast to shrink dramatically due to successive rounds of sanctions imposed by the EU, the United States and various allies, with the main objective of the Russian Central Bank.

On February 24, Putin ordered Russian troops to start operations on Ukrainian territory, triggering unprecedented Western sanctions against Russia and causing an exodus of foreign corporations from that country.

The coordinated response of the United States and the EU has made Russia the most sanctioned country in the world, causing the ruble to free fall and accelerating inflation, as well as raising fears of debt default.

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