Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1791 of 11 October 2021 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 of 17 March 2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (1), and in particular Article 14(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1) On 17 March 2014, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) No 269/2014.

(2) The European Union does not recognise the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation.

(3) Since the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, the Russian Federation has been making continuous efforts to subject those occupied territories to its rule. In particular, the Russian Federation uses the powers of its judiciary to oppress the opponents of its illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol.

(4) Several judges, prosecutors and security officers are responsible for enforcing Russian law in the illegally occupied Crimea and Sevastopol. Those persons have been taking biased decisions in multiple politically motivated criminal proceedings or prosecuting pro-Ukrainian activists or intensifying the oppression campaign against opponents of the illegal annexation.

(5) The Council considers that eight individuals should be added to the list of persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 for their role in undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

(6) Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The persons listed in the Annex to this Regulation shall be added to the list set out in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 269/2014.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Luxembourg, 11 October 2021.

For the Council The President J. PODGORŠEK

(1) OJ L 78, 17.3.2014, p. 6.