Case T-742/22: Judgment of the General Court of 3 July 2024 – Mazepin v Council (Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures taken in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine – Freezing of funds – List of persons, entities and bodies subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources – Maintaining the applicant’s name on the list – Concept of leading businessperson – Article 2(1)(g) of Decision 2014/145/CFSP – Plea of illegality – Obligation to state reasons – Error of assessment – Proportionality)
Date: 2024-07-03
Institutions: General Court
Subjects: EU restrictive measure, Russo-Ukrainian issue, economic sanctions, enjoyment of rights, freezing of assets, international sanctions, ownership, principle of legal certainty, principle of proportionality, right to justice








C_202404856EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2024/4856


12.8.2024






Judgment of the General Court of 3 July 2024 – Mazepin v Council


(Case T-742/22)
                (1)

(Common foreign and security policy - Restrictive measures taken in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine - Freezing of funds - List of persons, entities and bodies subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources - Maintaining the applicant’s name on the list - Concept of ‘leading businessperson’ - Article 2(1)(g) of Decision 2014/145/CFSP - Plea of illegality - Obligation to state reasons - Error of assessment - Proportionality)
(C/2024/4856)
Language of the case: English

Parties


Applicant: Dmitry Arkadievich Mazepin (Moscow, Russia) (represented by: D. Rovetta, M. Campa, M. Moretto, V. Villante, T. Marembert and A. Bass, lawyers)

Defendant: Council of the European Union (represented by: P. Mahnič and J. Rurarz, acting as Agent)

Intervener in support of the defendant: Republic of Latvia (represented by: J. Davidoviča and K. Pommere, acting as Agents)

Re:

By his action under Article 263 TFEU, the applicant seeks annulment of:






—


Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/1530 of 14 September 2022 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2022 L 239, p. 149), of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1529 of 14 September 2022 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2022 L 239, p. 1) and of the letter of 15 September 2022 by which the Council decided to maintain the applicant’s name on the list of persons, entities and bodies covered by the restrictive measures provided for by 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 2014 L 78, p. 16), as amended, in so far as those acts maintain his name on the lists annexed to those acts;










—


Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/572 of 13 March 2023 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2023 L 75I, p. 134) and of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/571 of 13 March 2023 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2023 L 75I, p. 1), in so far as those acts maintain his name on the lists annexed to those acts;










—


Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/811 of 13 April 2023 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2023 L 101, p. 67) and of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/806 of 13 April 2023 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2023 L 101, p. 1), in so far as those acts maintain his name on the lists annexed to those acts;










—


Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1767 of 13 September 2023 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2023 L 226, p. 104), of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1765 of 13 September 2023 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2023 L 226, p. 3) and of the letter of 15 September 2023 by which the Council decided to maintain the applicant’s name on the list of persons, entities and bodies covered by the restrictive measures provided for by 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 2014 L 78, p. 16), as amended, and Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 of 17 March 2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2014 L 78, p. 6), as amended, in so far as those acts maintain the applicant’s name on the lists annexed to those acts.





Operative part of the judgment

The Court:






1.


Dismisses the action;










2.


Orders Mr Dmitry Arkadievich Mazepin to bear his own costs and to pay those incurred by the Council of the European Union;










3.


Orders the Republic of Latvia to bear its own costs.






(1)  
            OJ C 24, 23.1.2023.


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/4856/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)