EU Issues New Russia Sanctions, Creates New Belarus Sanctions Listing Criterion
The EU this week announced new sanctions against Russia and created a new way for the bloc to designate people and entities involved in Belarus-related foreign information manipulation and interference.
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The new Russia sanctions target five people and four entities responsible for supporting Russia’s shadow fleet, including business people linked to major Russian state-owned oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil, the Council of the EU said. They also include shipping companies based in the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and Russia that own or manage tankers already subject to sanctions for moving Russian crude oil or petroleum products.
The EU also sanctioned 12 people and two entities for "information manipulation and cyber attacks." They include foreign-policy analysts "embedded in institutions, think-tanks and universities closely linked to or affiliated with the Kremlin’s policy and messaging apparatus" along with pro-Russian influencers and influencers promoting pro-Russian propaganda. Other designations target the International Russophile Movement for amplifying destabilizing "narratives globally on behalf of the Russian government," the Kaliningrad 142nd Separate Electronic Warfare Battalion, members of the Russian Military Intelligence Agency GRU, and others.
The EU's new criterion under its Belarus-related sanctions allows it to target those manipulating information, those that are involved in actions targeted at the "functioning of democratic institutions, economic activities or services of public interest of the EU and its member states," and those who enter the territory of a member state without authorization. The EU can also now sanction people and entities that interfere with, damage or destroy "critical infrastructure."