Report: New EU sanctions may hit 2 banks, Russian media

MOSCOW, Dec 12 (PRIME) -- The E.U. may impose sanctions on Russia’s Credit Bank of Moscow, Far Eastern Bank (Dalnevostochny Bank), three TV channels, several TV hosts and film director Nikita Mikhalkov, portal EUobserver reported on Monday citing a draft document.

“Draft new EU blacklists of 144 individuals include popular Russian TV presenters Boris Korchevnikov and Marina … Kim, singer Grigory Lepservidze (Leps), and writers Dmitry Puchkov, Nikita Mikhalov (Mikhalkov), and Sergey Mikheev,” the portal reported.

The E.U. plans to freeze assets of VGTRK and National Media Group state-media holding companies, state broadcaster ANO TV-Novosti, and the Strategic Culture Foundation. It will also revoke broadcasting licenses of NTV/NTV Mir, Rossiya 1, and REN TV in the E.U. countries.

According to the draft, the sanctions will also hit Russia's mining sector, sale of dual-use technology and two banks.

“(The sanctions) also include economic measures – an embargo on investment in Russia's mining sector, a ban on sale of dual-use technology to 169 Russian companies, and an asset-freeze on the Credit Bank of Moscow and Dalnevostochny Bank,” the portal reported.

The E.U. plans to freeze assets and ban visas of four members of the Kovalchuk family, who owns media and social media firms.

The sanctions will also include two daughters and a cousin of Chechen Republic’s Head Ramzan Kadyrov and “dozens of minor government ministers, parliament members, senators, regional governors, military officers, and officials,” the portal reported.

E.U. foreign ministers will discuss details of the new sanctions in Brussels on Monday.

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