EU to impose sanctions against businessmen who helped seize European assets

The European Union intends to add to the 12th sanctions package those individuals and organizations that participated in the seizure of assets of European companies in Russia. EU countries intend to approve the latest proposals of the European Commission in this regard, Politico writes.

According to the proposals, the EU will be able to impose sanctions on those who "benefit from the forced transfer of ownership or control of organizations registered in Russia that were previously owned or controlled by persons from the European Union."

In July, the Kremlin decided to place the Russian subsidiaries of Carlsberg and French Danone under external control.

One of Putin's "friends," Taimuraz Bolloyev, was offered to take over Baltika in the summer, which was actually taken away from Carlsberg.

Ramzan Kadyrov's nephew, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture of Chechnya, 32-year-old Yakub Zakriev, was appointed CEO of Danone Russia.

Russia has "stolen" Carlsberg's assets, the company's CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen said in the fall:

"We are not going to enter into an agreement with the Russian government that would somehow justify the misappropriation of our business."

The Danes refused to grant Baltika licenses to manufacture, sell and distribute its products in Russia.

The commission believes that the imposition of sanctions will also help discourage potential new owners and managers to whom the Russian state may want to transfer confiscated assets in the future, Politico writes.

"If they are involved in such transactions, they will automatically be put on the sanctions list with all the consequences for the company and owners, including restrictions on financial transactions and travel," Svitlana Taran of the Brussels-based European Policy Center told the publication.

Background. As reported, Carlsberg has terminated agreements with Russia's Baltika on the production and sale of beer under the group's brands.