EU extends sanctions against Yanukovych and his inner circle
As expected, on the 2nd of March, the EU will continue sanctions against the former Ukrainian President, Viktor Yanukovych, and 15 members of his inner circle. These sanctions were to end on the 6th of March. "Radio Freedom", with reference to sources in the EU, reports.
It is noted that the sanctions will be extended for another year.
It is also expected that the former Minister of Health, Raisa Bogatyreva, will not be on the list of sanctions. Sanctions were imposed two years ago due to the investigation of abuse of public money and illegal withdrawal of assets outside Ukraine. Diplomatic sources in the EU say that the decision to extend sanctions will be published in the official journal of the European Union on the 5th of March and immediately put into force.
Those subject to EU sanctions include the former Minister of Internal Affairs, Vitaly Zakharchenko, the former Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Viktor Pshonka, the former Head of Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Oleksandr Yakymenko, Yanukovych's adviser, Andriy Portnov, the former Justice Minister, Olena Lukash, the Head of the Yanukovych Administration, Andriy Klyuev, businessman Sergey Kurchenko, the former Minister of Education and Science, Dmytro Tabachnyk, and other officials from the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych.
In 2015, the sanctions against Andriy Portnov, Yanukovych's adviser, were lifted.