Permanent representatives of EU countries approve prolongation of sanctions against Ukrainians who are responsible for embezzlement of public funds

14:14, 02.03.2016 1 min read

The Committee of Permanent Representatives in the European Union (COREPER) in its meeting in Brussels on Wednesday approved the prolongation of the targeted restrictive measures taken by the EU on some citizens of Ukraine whom they consider responsible for the embezzlement of public funds, a European diplomatic source told Interfax.

This decision is now pending the consideration and approval of the ministers of the member countries at the Council of the European Union meeting on March 4, the source said.

The source said the sanctions, if approved by the ministers, will be prolonged by 12 months.

The restrictive measures on persons who in the EU are considered to be involved in the misappropriation of public funds in Ukraine now apply to 17 people. They were expected to expire on March 6, 2017.

Among the people on the sanctions list are Ukraine's ex-president Viktor Yanukovych and his elder son Oleksandr Yanukovych. The Ukrainian ex-president's younger son Viktor, who died, was removed from the blacklist.