Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1256 of 23 June 2025 implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses
Date: 2025-06-23
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU restrictive measure, economic sanctions, human rights, international sanctions, natural person








L_202501256EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2025/1256


23.6.2025







            COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2025/1256
         
of 23 June 2025
         
implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses


THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,


Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 of 7 December 2020 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses (1), and in particular Article 14(1) thereof,


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

Whereas:







(1)


On 7 December 2020, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2020/1998.












(2)


On 8 December 2020, by way of the Declaration by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’), on behalf of the European Union, regarding the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, the Union and its Member States reaffirmed their strong commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime underscores the Union’s determination to enhance its role in addressing serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide. Realising the effective enjoyment of human rights for every person is a strategic goal of the Union. Respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights is a fundamental value of the Union and its common foreign and security policy.












(3)


In March 2025, a wave of violence in Syria’s coastal region created a high number of victims, including many civilians. On 11 March 2025, the High Representative issued a statement on behalf of the Union in which the Union condemned the horrific crimes committed against civilians, including arbitrary killings. Furthermore, actors related to the former al-Assad regime continue to play a destabilising role and are responsible for or provide support for serious human rights violations or abuses in Syria.












(4)


In that context, five persons should be added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies set out in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2020/1998.












(5)


Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 should therefore be amended accordingly,





HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:



Article 1
Annex I to Council Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.


Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.




This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 23 June 2025.


For the Council


The President

K. KALLAS
            





(1)  
            OJ L 410 I, 7.12.2020, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/1998/oj.




ANNEX
In Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2020/1998, the following entries are added to the list of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies under heading ‘A. Natural persons’:











 


Names (Transliteration into Latin script)


Names


Identifying information


Reasons for listing


Date of listing




‘121.


Miqdad Lu’ay FATIHA
a.k.a. Miqdad FATIHA, Miqdad FUTAIHA, Abu Jafar, Abu Jaafar, Abu Ja’ afar



مقداد لؤيّ فتيحة


مقداد فتيحة

(Arabic spelling)


DOB: 19.6.1989
POB: Jableh, Latakia, Syria
Nationality: Syrian
Gender: male
Address: Syria/Lebanon


Miqdad Fatiha is a former member of the Syrian Republican Guard, which has since been disbanded. In this role he has been responsible for many serious human rights violations or abuses, including torture and other cruel treatment of prisoners.
After the fall of the al-Assad regime in December 2024, Miqdad Fatiha has formed militias in the coastal regions of Syria, stoking sectarian tensions and inciting violence. Units under his command were involved in the March 2025 sectarian violence in the coastal region of Syria that resulted in the loss of hundreds of civilian lives.
As the leader of the militias, Miqdad Fatiha is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses, including torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.


23.6.2025




122.


Ghaith DALLA
a.k.a. Ghiath Suleiman DALLA, Ghyath DALLA, Ghayth DALLA



غياث سليمان دلا


غياث سليمان دلّا

(Arabic spelling)


DOB: 31.7.1971
POB: Beit Yashout, Syria
Nationality: Syrian
Gender: male
Associated individuals: Maher Al-Assad
Associated entities: Fourth Division of the Syrian Army, Military Council for the Liberation of Syria


Ghaith Dalla is a former Brigadier General with Syria’s notorious Fourth Army Division during the al-Assad regime. In this role, he has been responsible for many serious and well-documented human rights violations or abuses, including extrajudicial killings and cruel punishment by way of starvation.
After the fall of the al-Assad regime, Ghaith Dalla went on to establish and lead the “Military Council for the Liberation of Syria” in March 2025. His militia has since stoked sectarian tensions and incited violence in the coastal region of Syria. Ghaith Dalla’s units were involved in the March 2025 sectarian violence in the coastal region of Syria that resulted in the loss of hundreds of civilian lives.
Therefore, Ghaith Dalla is responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses.


23.6.2025




123.


Suhayl AL-HASAN
a.k.a. Suhail Salman AL-HASAN, Suhail AL-HASSAN



سهيل سلمان الحسن

(Arabic spelling)


DOB: 10.6.1970
POB: Jableh, Latakia, Syria
Nationality: Syrian
Gender: male
Address: Tartus, Syria


Suhayl al-Hasan is a Former Commander of Division 25 Special Mission Forces of the Syrian armed forces under the al-Assad regime. In this role, as well as in the numerous other positions he held in the Syrian Armed Forces, he has committed and overseen countless severe human rights violations or abuses that include torture, extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests. He is also reported to have overseen the deployment of chemical weapons.
After the fall of the al-Assad regime, Suhayl al-Hasan went on to establish the “Coastal Shield Brigade” in March 2025. His militia has since stoked sectarian tensions and incited violence in the coastal region of Syria. Suhayl al-Hasan’s units were involved in the March 2025 sectarian violence in the coastal region of Syria that resulted in the loss of hundreds of civilian lives.
Therefore, Suhayl al-Hasan is responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses.


23.6.2025




124.


Mudalal KHOURY
a.k.a. Madalal (Mtanyus) KHURI, Mudallal KHOURY, Mudallal KHOURI



مدلل خوري

(Arabic spelling)


DOB: 18.6.1957
POB: Homs, Syria
Nationality: Syrian, Russian
Gender: male
Address: Moscow
Associated individual: Imad Khoury


Mudalal Khoury is a Syrian-Russian businessman operating from Russia. He is one of the most prominent Syrian businessmen who supported the al-Assad regime. In a context where the al-Assad regime used barrel bombs and chemical weapons against the civilian population of Syria, Mudalal Khoury represented the regime’s business and financial interests in Russia. Amongst other things, he provided front companies to be used for the al-Assad regime’s chemical and ballistic weapons programmes.
Therefore, Mudalal Khoury has provided financial, technical and material support for serious human rights violations or abuses, in particular crimes against humanity.


23.6.2025




125.


Imad KHOURY
a.k.a. Emad KHOURY, Mtanyus KHURY, KHURI, KHOURI



عماد خوري

(Arabic spelling)


DOB: 3.10.1964
Nationality: Syrian, Russian
Gender: male
Associated individual: Mudalal Khoury


Imad Khoury is one of the most prominent Syrian businessmen who supported the al-Assad regime. In a context where the al-Assad regime used barrel bombs and chemical weapons against the civilian population of Syria, Imad Khoury represented the regime’s business and financial interests. Amongst other things, he founded a company that was part of a money laundering scheme supporting the al-Assad regime. In this way, together with his brother Mudalal Khoury, he helped finance the severe crimes against humanity committed under the al-Assad regime.
Therefore, Imad Khoury has provided financial, technical and material support for serious human rights violations or abuses, in particular crimes against humanity.


23.6.2025’.








ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1256/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)