The EU Council adopted a new regime of sanctions introduction against individuals and legal entities involved in the development and use of chemical weapons, reads the message published on the website of the organization.
‘The Council adopted a new regime of restrictive measures to address the use and proliferation of chemical weapons. This decision is a direct follow-up to the conclusions of the European Council of 28 June 2018,’ reads the message.
It means that now, the EU can impose sanctions against the individuals and organizations involved in the development and use of chemical weapons in any place, regardless of their nationality and location.
The EU Council specified that the restrictive measures will be aimed at the individuals and subjects who are directly responsible for the development and use of chemical weapons, as well as those who provide financial, technical, and material support, and those who help, encourage them or associate with them.
Sanctions consist of a travel ban to the EU and an asset freeze for persons, and an asset freeze for entities. In addition, EU persons and entities are forbidden from making funds available to those listed.
Earlier, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and Secretary of State for Defense of the United Kingdom Gavin Williamson discussed the strengthening of the sanctions against Russia due to the poisoning of ex-GRU officer Sergey Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned in British Salisbury. Theresa May, British PM, stated that Russia was responsible for that, and the investigation has confirmed the use of the Novichok nerve agent, which is produced in Russia.
