EU sanction list includes high-ranking defense officials and lawmakers from Russia, say media reports
The additional black list agreed on Thursday by the Permanent Representatives Committee in the European Union (COREPER) in reaction to Russia’s recent offensive in south-east Ukraine includes one of the Russia's deputy defence ministers and two senior defence ministry officials, the EUObserver publication said.
The EUObserver said, referring to own sources, that they named one of Russia’s deputy defence ministers, two senior defence ministry officials, and two MPs, one of whom is a described as a “senior” figure in the political elite.
As reported, the Committee of Permanent Representatives on Thursday agreed on a proposal to add 19 individuals and nine entities to the list of sanctions imposed over Ukraine, and will submit the document for consideration to EU foreign ministers.
The EUObserver said one of the entities is based in Russia, while the rest are also in Ukraine.
According to the publication, Hawkish EU countries had proposed more senior people, including: Sergei Shoigu (defence minister); Grigory Karasin (deputy foreign minister); and Sergei Ivanov (the head of the presidential administration).
The new list is to be adopted by EU foreign ministers at a meeting in Brussels on February 9 and will enter into life when published in the EU’s legal gazette - the Official Journal - most likely on February 10 morning.