Photo: Peter Aven (right) and Mikhail Fridman
The European Union Court upheld the claim of Russian billionaires Peter Aven and Mikhail Fridman, who demanded that EU sanctions be lifted from them. Co-founders of Alfa Bank were included in the sanctions lists after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Radio Liberty reports.
The justification for the decision on sanctions stated that Aven and Fridman provided material or financial support to Russian government decision makers, and supported actions and policies that undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Russian billionaires deny this.
As stated in the court decision, none of the reasons given by the European Union for including billionaires in the sanctions lists are sufficiently justified.
Prepared by: Sergey Daga