Tenth sanctions package adopted
Photo: REUTERS
EU countries at the last moment were able to agree and adopt the 10th package of sanctions against Russia. Previously, in the US and Great Britain another set of restrictions was prepared against our country.
“The 10th sanctions package has been adopted: 121 natural and legal persons have been listed, new significant import/export restrictions have been introduced, and Russian propaganda outlets have been banned. We remain united in our determination to damage the Russian military machine,” Josep Borrell, head of European diplomacy, tweeted.
This time, the European Union was torn apart by controversy. Poland, which slowed down the negotiations, demanded tougher restrictions: a ban on importing Russian diamonds, to make Rosatom’s work in the world as difficult as possible, and also limiting the import of rubber from Russia. But colleagues from the European Union did not support Polish radicalism.
military-industrial complex
Today, the military-industrial complex has fallen further under the sanctions skid. The blacklist included 96 more organizations associated with the Russian military-industrial complex. In total, their number has reached 506, the EU Council said in a statement. For the first time, restrictive measures were introduced against seven Iranian companies. Presumably, we are talking about Oje Parvaz Mado Nafar, Paravar Pars, Qods Aviation Industries and Shahed Aviation Industries. They will be accused of producing drones that were used in the NVO zone in Ukraine.
It also placed a ban on “the export of critical technologies and manufactured products:
– vehicles (heavy trucks (and their parts), semi-trailers and special vehicles such as snowmobiles);
– goods easily channeled to the Russian army, including power generators, binoculars, radar, compasses, etc.;
– construction products (bridges, tower structures, forklifts, cranes, etc.);
– goods that are of decisive importance for the functioning and strengthening of the industrial potential of Russia (electronics, machine parts, pumps, equipment for metal processing, etc.);
– goods used in the aviation industry (turbojet engines).
Electronic components used in various types of weapons (drones, missiles, helicopters, etc.), thermal imaging cameras, and rare earth materials were also prohibited from importing into Russia. The EU authorities believe that in this way they will be able to prevent the “technological upgrading of Russia’s defense and security sector.”
IMPORT AND TRANSIT
As for imports, the EU has imposed “additional restrictions on the importation of goods that generate significant revenue for Russia” such as asphalt, synthetic rubber and carbon black. And it banned the transit of dual-use goods and technologies exported from the European Union through Russia to prevent diversion.
FINANCIAL SECTOR
Three Russian banks have been added to the sanctions list. Although their names are not mentioned, it is possible that we are talking about Tinkoff Bank, Alfa Bank and Rosbank.
The EU continues to work on the seizure of frozen Russian assets. As noted in the document, “this is especially important in relation to the possible use of Russian state assets to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine after the defeat of Russia.” As part of this work, it is planned to introduce a ban on the transit of dual-use goods and firearms through the territory of Russia to third countries.
mass media
European authorities are also haunted by the Russian media, which has now suspended the licenses of Arabic RT and Arabic Sputnik. These channels were allegedly used for “continuous and concerted disinformation and war propaganda.”
ADDITIONAL MEASURES
The European Union has prohibited Russians from holding leadership positions in strategic European companies, mainly gas, oil and electricity companies, as well as transport companies, from railways to shipping. The EU Council said in a statement that “Russian influence in these bodies could threaten their normal functioning and ultimately jeopardize the provision of essential services for European citizens.”
It is also prohibited for Russian citizens and Russian companies to reserve gas storage facilities in the European Union, with the exception of LNG.
