EU prolongs individual sanctions vs Russians, Ukrainians to Mar ‘17

MOSCOW, Sep 15 (PRIME) -- The E.U. has made a decision to prolong sanctions against 146 individuals and 37 entities of Russia and Ukraine, including an asset freeze and a travel ban, by six months until March 2017, the E.U. Council said in a statement Thursday.

“The Council prolonged by six months the application of E.U. restrictive measures targeting actions against Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence,” the statement read.

“The measures had been introduced in March 2014 and were last extended in March 2016. The assessment of the situation did not justify a change in the regime of sanctions nor in the list of persons and entities under restrictive measures. Information and statement of reasons for listing related to these persons and entities were updated as necessary,” the E.U. Council said.

The list includes top Crimean officials: Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov, First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Temirgaliyev and Sevastopol’s Mayor Alexei Chaly, as well as Russian Federation Council’s Chairwoman Valentina Matviyenko and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.

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