EU Committee Votes to Extend Sanctions on Ukraine Embezzlement Suspects

The Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) in the European Union has recommended the prolongation of targeted sanctions imposed on several Ukrainian nationals, accused of the embezzlement of state funds, a source close to EU leadership told RIA Novosti Wednesday.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — The sanctions are due to expire on Sunday and a decision on them is likely to be adopted before that date. Any such decision must be approved by the Council of the European Union.

"The measures have not yet been extended. It was only COREPER’s decision. Now the ministers should make the decision on March 4. I expect that this will be a one-year [prolongation]," the source said.

Brussels imposed sanctions against a number of Ukrainian citizens who are considered responsible for the theft of state funds on March 5, 2014, freezing assets and issuing visa bans.

The former President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, his sons Alexander and Viktor and a number of former ministers were blacklisted. The list of sanctioned individuals has been revised several times. To this day, 17 Ukrainian embezzlement suspects figure on the European Union's blacklist.