Among them is the former rhythmic gymnast Alina Kabaeva. According to the sanctions decision, she is “the chairwoman of the board of directors of the National Media Group (NMG), which holds large stakes in almost all major Russian federal media outlets that reproduce Russian government propaganda.” She is also “closely connected” to Russian President Vladimir Putin. In addition, other politicians, business people and also the military are on the sanctions list, which the EU holds responsible for war crimes.
Also present is Asatbek Omurbekov, who “because of his direct responsibility for killings, rapes and torture in Bucha was nicknamed “the butcher of Bucha”. Mikhail Mizintsev, known as the “Butcher of Mariupol”, is also on the list. An EU entry ban and financial blocks will apply to them in the future.
On the other hand, the Russian Orthodox Church leader Patriarch Kirill, who was removed from the list under pressure from Hungary, will not be sanctioned. The EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell was disappointed on Friday. This shows the limits of EU foreign policy, which requires unanimous decisions. Religious leaders should not be spared responsibility for Putin’s war.
The aim of the oil boycott is to stop oil from entering the EU by sea in the coming year. Only Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic are still allowed to import Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline due to their high level of dependence. Despite the exception for pipeline deliveries, around 90 percent less oil should come from Russia to the EU by the end of the year.