The European Union (EU) court has ruled that the sanctions decisions made against Russian oligarchs Mikhail Fridman and Pjotr Awen were unjustified, as the EU did not provide enough evidence to include them on the sanctions list. The judges in Luxembourg found that while proximity to Russian President Putin was demonstrated by the Council of EU states, it was not shown that Fridman and Awen supported actions threatening Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.
The decision does not remove Fridman and Awen from the sanctions list entirely, as they may still be appealed to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on legal grounds. Additionally, the Council of the EU has issued new sanctions decisions against them, which are not affected by this ruling.
Fridman and Awen are significant shareholders of the financial group Alfa-Group, which has been targeted with sanctions by both the EU and US following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While the EU argued that they financially supported Russian decision-makers undermining Ukraine, the judges found this evidence lacking and deemed their inclusion on the list unjustified. This case adds to a growing number of legal challenges against EU sanctions related to the war in Ukraine, including recent rulings on former Formula 1 driver Nikita Masepin and Violetta Prigoschinathe, mother of Yevgeny Prigoschin.
The EU has imposed sanctions on nearly 2,000 individuals and organizations in response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Despite some rulings in favor of the EU, such as Roman Abramovich, many individuals have succeeded in challenging their inclusion on the sanctions list. These legal battles reflect the complexity and challenges faced in enforcing sanctions during international conflicts.
