IN EU will strictly punish all those involved in circumventing the sanctions imposed against the Russian Federation. The European Parliament resolution of March 12 states that all proceeds from violations of the sanctions regime against Russia will be subject to confiscation in favor of Ukraine.
How writes DW, violation of EU restrictive measures will become a criminal offense in all EU member states. The resolution was adopted during a plenary meeting in Strasbourg. The document contains proposals and developments on the directive on circumventing EU restrictive measures, made on behalf of the European Commission, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament. The resolution states:
“To ensure the effective implementation of restrictive measures, the integrity of the internal market and the achievement of a high level of security in matters of freedom, security and justice, it is necessary to establish common minimum rules for the definition of criminal offenses and penalties for violations of these EU restrictive measures.”
The European Parliament proposes that member states introduce into their national legislation “effective, proportionate and convincing penalties for natural or legal persons who violate EU restrictive measures.” Governments “must ensure” that circumventing sanctions is a criminal offense in their countries.
The document mentions a common practice by which EU sanctions are often circumvented: “money, property or economic resources are transferred to third parties.” These actions undermine the effectiveness of restrictive measures and “fall under the category of crimes related to evasion of sanctions.” It is also emphasized that income received as a result of violation of restrictive measures should be subject to confiscation:
“If these confiscated assets are related to Russian military aggression against Ukraine (…), then they, or the proceeds received from their liquidation, should be a contribution to the reconstruction of Ukraine. Punishment for circumventing sanctions must be effective, deterrent and proportionate. This is imprisonment for individuals and fines for companies and enterprises, which will be proportionate to the financial benefit received from the commission of the offense.”
The European Parliament resolution obliges each EU member state to create a special body that will deal with coordination and cooperation between national law enforcement authorities and the EU institutions responsible for implementing sanctions.
The representative of the Socialists from the Netherlands, Theis Ruten, noted during the debate that legal gaps in national legislation allowed Russian oligarchs to choose the EU member state in which it was easier for them to circumvent sanctions. According to him, the resolution will eliminate these legislative differences in the EU countries, and will also “send the right signal to brave Ukrainians.”
Sergei Lagodinsky, a German deputy from the Greens, noted that many are surprised by the existence of “safe havens” for Russian money in the European Union:
“We see how private planes of Russian oligarchs fly to the EU from Istanbul, despite the fact that the airspace of the EU countries should be closed to them.”
The politician is convinced that the directive on punishment for circumventing sanctions and confiscation of assets obtained as a result of this will become the legislative framework that will effectively combat violations of the EU sanctions regime.
How Russia is circumventing Western sanctions with the help of Georgia and other post-Soviet states:
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