The European Union Court of Justice has upheld sanctions against Oleksandr Vinokurov, the son-in-law of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, following an appeal he filed to have the measures lifted. The court ruling, published on January 29, 2025, means Vinokurov, who is the president of Marathon Group and a key shareholder in the Magnit retail chain, will remain under restrictive measures.
Vinokurov had challenged the sanctions, arguing that they were unjustified and that the European Union Council’s decision to impose them was inapplicable. His appeal contended that the sanctions, which were imposed due to his alleged role in actions threatening Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence, should be lifted. Furthermore, he requested that the EU pay for all costs associated with the case.
However, the court found in favour of the European Union, reaffirming the decision to impose sanctions on Vinokurov due to his significant financial ties to sectors that are vital to the Russian government. As an influential businessman, Vinokurov’s connections have been viewed as supporting the Russian state, particularly during the period following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He was reported to have attended a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on that very day, just hours after the full-scale invasion commenced.
The ruling is a part of the broader international effort to target individuals and entities linked to Russia’s military and political aggression in Ukraine. In related news, the European Union has announced plans to impose additional sanctions on 35 individuals and 19 companies, including those from Russia, North Korea, and China, aimed at further isolating Moscow.
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