EU envoys approve sanction extension on Russia over Crimea “elections”

The EU ambassadors in Brussels on Monday supported the proposal to extend a package of sanctions related to the annexation of Crimea by Russia, an EU diplomat says. EU ministers in Brussels are yet to formally endorse the decision on Tuesday, PAP news agency reports. The sanctions are related to local elections conducted by Russia in Crimea, the EU diplomat told PAP. Another seven individuals are expected to be added to the sanctions list, which means they will be banned from entering the EU, while their assets will be frozen. Read also Russian delegation’s credentials appealed at PACE Until lately, it was Cyrpus which had been blocking the introduction of new sanctions against Russia in a hope that the EU would draft tougher measures targeting Turkey amid a sea drilling dispute. “On Monday, Cyprus withdrew its reservations,” the source told PAP. RFE/RL’s own correspondent in Brussels, Rikard Jozwiak, echoed the report: “The EU will tomorrow add another 7 ppl on its sanctions list over individuals undermining the territorial integrity of Ukraine. the 7 facilitated and participated in the Russian regional elections in September in Crimea.” In September 2019, the EU extended for six months Russia sanctions against 170 individuals and 44 entities over their actions undermining territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine.