# L_2023146EN.01002001.xml

| 6.6.2023 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 146/20 |
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6.6.2023

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 146/20

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COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2023/1094

of 5 June 2023

amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

| (1) | On 17 March 2014, the Council adopted Decision 2014/145/CFSP (1). |
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(1)

On 17 March 2014, the Council adopted Decision 2014/145/CFSP (1).

| (2) | The Union remains unwavering in its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. |
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(2)

The Union remains unwavering in its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

| (3) | In its conclusions of 9 February 2023, the European Council reiterated the Union’s resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of the United Nations Charter. The European Council also reiterated that the Union stands ready to continue to reinforce its restrictive measures against Russia. |
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(3)

In its conclusions of 9 February 2023, the European Council reiterated the Union’s resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of the United Nations Charter. The European Council also reiterated that the Union stands ready to continue to reinforce its restrictive measures against Russia.

| (4) | The Council has assessed that a relationship of mutual benefit and support exists between the Government of the Russian Federation and leading businesspersons operating in Russia. In particular, the Government of the Russian Federation has systematically allowed prominent Russian businesspersons to accumulate their wealth through the exploitation of natural and other public resources. The Council considers, in view of this relationship of interdependence between leading businesspersons and the Government of the Russian Federation, that the designation criteria should cover leading businesspersons operating in any economic sector of Russia. In addition, the Council considers that the designation criteria should be extended to allow for the listing as appropriate of other businesspersons who are involved in economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the Government of the Russian Federation, in order to increase pressure on the Government of the Russian Federation to bring an end to its war of aggression against Ukraine. |
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(4)

The Council has assessed that a relationship of mutual benefit and support exists between the Government of the Russian Federation and leading businesspersons operating in Russia. In particular, the Government of the Russian Federation has systematically allowed prominent Russian businesspersons to accumulate their wealth through the exploitation of natural and other public resources. The Council considers, in view of this relationship of interdependence between leading businesspersons and the Government of the Russian Federation, that the designation criteria should cover leading businesspersons operating in any economic sector of Russia. In addition, the Council considers that the designation criteria should be extended to allow for the listing as appropriate of other businesspersons who are involved in economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the Government of the Russian Federation, in order to increase pressure on the Government of the Russian Federation to bring an end to its war of aggression against Ukraine.

| (5) | The Council has also assessed that leading Russian businesspersons have engaged in a systematic practice of distributing their funds and assets amongst their immediate family members and other persons, often in order to hide their assets, to circumvent the restrictive measures and to maintain control over the resources available to them. Therefore, the Council considers that immediate family members or other natural persons, who benefit in such a way from leading businesspersons operating in Russia, should also be designated as appropriate, in order to both increase pressure on the Government of the Russian Federation to bring an end to its war of aggression against Ukraine as well as to avoid the risk of circumvention of the restrictive measures. |
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(5)

The Council has also assessed that leading Russian businesspersons have engaged in a systematic practice of distributing their funds and assets amongst their immediate family members and other persons, often in order to hide their assets, to circumvent the restrictive measures and to maintain control over the resources available to them. Therefore, the Council considers that immediate family members or other natural persons, who benefit in such a way from leading businesspersons operating in Russia, should also be designated as appropriate, in order to both increase pressure on the Government of the Russian Federation to bring an end to its war of aggression against Ukraine as well as to avoid the risk of circumvention of the restrictive measures.

| (6) | Further action by the Union is needed in order to implement certain measures. |
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(6)

Further action by the Union is needed in order to implement certain measures.

| (7) | Decision 2014/145/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly, |
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(7)

Decision 2014/145/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Decision 2014/145/CFSP is amended as follows:

| (1) | in Article 1(1), point (e) is replaced by the following:






  ‘(e) | leading businesspersons operating in Russia and their immediate family members, or other natural persons, benefitting from them, or businesspersons involved in economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the Government of the Russian Federation, which is responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine; or’; |
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(1)

in Article 1(1), point (e) is replaced by the following:

‘(e)

leading businesspersons operating in Russia and their immediate family members, or other natural persons, benefitting from them, or businesspersons involved in economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the Government of the Russian Federation, which is responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine; or’;

| (2) | in Article 2(1), point (g) is replaced by the following:






  ‘(g) | leading businesspersons operating in Russia and their immediate family members, or other natural persons, benefitting from them, or businesspersons, legal persons, entities or bodies involved in economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the Government of the Russian Federation, which is responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine; or’. |
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(2)

in Article 2(1), point (g) is replaced by the following:

‘(g)

leading businesspersons operating in Russia and their immediate family members, or other natural persons, benefitting from them, or businesspersons, legal persons, entities or bodies involved in economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the Government of the Russian Federation, which is responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine; or’.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 5 June 2023.

For the Council

The President

J. ROSWALL

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(1)  Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP of 17 March 2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ L 78, 17.3.2014, p. 16).

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