Analysis

EU extends sanctions against former Ukrainian officials

The Council of the European Union has extended its restrictive measures against former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych and 11 members of his former administration.

“The council has extended until March 6, 2020 the asset freezes directed against 12 persons identified as responsible for the misappropriation of Ukrainian state funds or for the abuse of office causing a loss to Ukrainian public funds,” the council announced.

Besides Mr Yanukovych, the list includes the former president’s son, former prime minister Mykola Azarov, former interior minister Vitaliy Zakharchenko and the country’s former prosecutor general Viktor Pshonka.

“The restrictive measures against one person were not extended,” the council said. According to the Ukrainian media, the person in question is Andriy Kyuyev, the former head of the Yanukovych administration.

EU sanctions were introduced against former Ukrainian government officials associated with Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the crisis in Eastern Ukraine.

Mr Yanukovych is currently in exile in Russia.