PMC “Wagner” under sanctions – "black list" extended

The European Union has imposed additional sanctions against the Russian private military company Wagner in connection with “human rights violations” in the Central African Republic, Mali, Sudan and Ukraine.

How informs BB.LV, 11 individuals and seven legal entities associated with PMCs have been added to the “black list”. Among them are the commanders of units participating in the war against Ukraine. IN press release Council EU two commanders of the Wagner Group forces are reported who “took an active part” in the capture of the Ukrainian city of Soledar in January 2023.

The list includes, among others, President of the National Values ​​Defense Fund Maxim Shugalei, head of the Wagner group in Mali Ivan Maslov, press secretary of the Wagner group in CAR Alexander Ivanov. Sanctions were also imposed against the Fund for the Protection of National Values, the radio station from the Central African Republic Lengo Sengo, Meroe Gold and M-Invest for cooperation with Wagner PMC. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said:

“The activities of the Wagner Group pose a threat to the people in the countries where they operate and to the European Union. They endanger international peace and security because they operate outside of any legal field. These individuals include two commanders of the Wagner Group forces who took an active part in the capture of the city of Soledar in January 2023; the leader of the Wagner group in Mali, where Wagner mercenaries were involved in violent acts and numerous human rights violations, including extrajudicial executions, and a number of important members of the group in the CAR.”

The sanctions include an asset freeze, a ban on entry and transit through EU countries, and a ban on citizens and companies in the EU from providing funds to them. These sanctions are added to the measures agreed in December 2021, which targeted 8 individuals and 3 entities, as well as the Wagner Group as a whole. In addition, then the EU Council created a separate sanctions regime for those involved in the threat to peace and stability in Mali. The EU global sanctions regime for human rights violations was launched in December 2020.

The United States has officially declared the Russian private military company “Wagner” international criminal organization and issued an order to freeze her assets in the United States for helping the Russian military in the war in Ukraine.

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