62021TJ0583_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 7 June 2023 –Bakhanovich v Council
(Case T‑583/21) (
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)
(Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures taken in view of the situation in Belarus – Freezing of funds – Lists of persons, entities and bodies subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources to which the freezing of funds and economic resources and the ban on entry into or transit through European Union territory applies – Inclusion of the applicant’s name on the lists – Collective nature of the sanction – Obligation to state reasons – Error of assessment – Proportionality)
1.
Acts of the institutions – Statement of reasons – Obligation – Scope – Restrictive measures against Belarus – Freezing of funds of certain persons and entities having regard to the situation in Belarus – Decision falling within a context known to the person concerned, enabling him or her to understand the scope of the measure taken against him or her – Whether summary statement of reasons sufficient – Limits – Statement of reasons not capable of consisting of a general and stereotyped formulation
(Art. 296 TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(c); Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP, as amended by Decision (CFSP) 2021/1002, Annex; Council Regulations No 765/2006 and No 2021/997, Annex)
(see paragraphs 21-26)
2.
Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures against Belarus – Criteria for adopting restrictive measures – Persons, entities or bodies responsible for serious violations of human rights, the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, or otherwise seriously undermining democracy or the rule of law – Natural or legal persons, entities and bodies benefiting from or supporting the Lukashenko regime – Definition
(Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP, as amended by Decision (CFSP) 2021/1002, Arts 3(1)(a) and (b), and 4(1)(a) and (b), and Annex; Council Regulations No 765/2006, Art. 2(4) and (5), 1014/2012 and 2021/997, Annex)
(see paragraphs 24, 69)
3.
Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures against Belarus – Freezing of funds of certain persons and entities having regard to the situation in Belarus – Nature of those measures – No criminal character
(Art. 29 TEU; Art. 215(2) TFEU; Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP, as amended by Decision (CFSP) 2021/1002; Council Regulations No 765/2006 and No 2021/997)
(see paragraph 28)
4.
European Union – Judicial review of the legality of the acts of the institutions – Restrictive measures against Belarus – Freezing of funds of certain persons and entities having regard to the situation in Belarus – Scope of the review – Obligation on the competent EU authority to establish, in the event of challenge, that the reasons relied on against the persons or entities concerned are well founded
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 47; Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP, as amended by Decision (CFSP) 2021/1002, Annex; Council Regulations No 765/2006 and No 2021/997, Annex)
(see paragraphs 36-40)
5.
Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures against Belarus – Freezing of funds – Application for annulment brought by a person responsible for the repression of civil society and supporting the Lukashenko regime – Allocation of the burden of proof – Decision based on a series of indicators – Probative value
(Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP, as amended by Decision (CFSP) 2021/1002, Arts 3(1)(a) and (b), and 4(1)(a) and (b), and Annex; Council Regulations No 765/2006, Art. 2(4) and (5), 1014/2012 and 2021/997, Annex)
(see paragraphs 48-53, 62-65)
6.
Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures against Belarus – Freezing of funds of certain persons and entities having regard to the situation in Belarus – Judicial review of lawfulness – Principle of proportionality – Appropriateness of the restrictive measures – Restrictive measures pursuing a legitimate aim of the common foreign and security policy
(Art. 21(2)(b) TEU; Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP, as amended by Decision (CFSP) 2021/1002, Annex; Council Regulations No 765/2006 and No 2021/997, Annex)
(see paragraphs 75-81)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the application;
2.
Orders Mr Aliaksandr Bakhanovich to pay the costs.
(
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)	OJ C 11, 10.1.2022.