EU court again upholds the sanctions measures against Abramovich
The EU General Court dismissed Roman Abramovich's action against the continued restrictive measures and left the Council acts in force. It found the criteria applied to leading businesspeople in sectors generating substantial revenue for the Russian state objective, sufficiently precise and proportionate. The ruling preserves the asset freeze and the ban on entry into or transit through the EU.
Geopolitics··Evening
The court left the Council acts in force
The EU General Court dismissed Roman Abramovich's latest action against the continuation of sanctions. Eunews and ANSA report that the judgment leaves the Council's restrictive measures in force. Abramovich had also lost a 2023 challenge to his listing and continued designation; the Council subsequently adopted new acts extending the measures. The new judgment rejects his action against those extension acts as well as his claim for compensation for non-material damage.[1], [2]
The listing criterion turns on state revenue
The court examined criteria covering leading businesspeople operating in Russia with close government ties and people active in sectors that generate substantial state revenue. Both reports say the judges found those criteria objective, sufficiently precise and proportionate. According to ANSA, the court treated the connection between Russia's leading economic actors and the state, along with the revenue importance of their sectors, as part of the sanctions basis.[1], [2]
Corporate links and two core restrictions remain
Abramovich is the principal shareholder of steel and mining group Evraz, and ANSA also reports that he holds a stake in Norilsk Nickel. The sanctions regime includes an asset freeze and a ban on entry into or transit through the EU. The court said Council working groups performed only preparatory tasks and that the Council itself adopted the contested decisions. The judgment leaves the personal restrictions and the institutional process maintaining them in force.[2]
