Ukraine calls for more oligarchs to be sanctioned by the EU

The EU has progressively imposed sanctions on Russia since 2014, following the illegal annexation of Crimea. In light of Russia’s escalating war of aggression against Ukraine and the illegal annexation of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, the EU Council has decided to impose a new package of economic and individual sanctions against Russia.

The agreed package includes a series of biting measures intended to reinforce pressure on the Russian government and economy, weaken Russia's military capabilities, and make the Kremlin pay for the recent escalation.

The list of parties sanctioned by the EU has been steadily expanding.

EU Regulations apply to funds and resources "controlled by" listed persons and prohibit making funds available to such persons "directly or indirectly".

Ukrainian parliamentarians are claiming that the EU's ninth round of sanctions list, which is being prepared by the EU Council on International Affairs., should include the gas oligarch Igor Makarov, President, and founder of ARETI International Group, one of the largest, privately-owned holding corporations in Europe.

Makarov’s companies have worked on various projects, including apartment complexes, commercial developments, resorts, and stadiums across Europe and the United States.

This was reported by the Ukrainian independent media outlet TAK, with reference to one of the leaders of the largest Ukrainian parliamentary faction "Servant of the People".

"Servant of the People" claims that the ninth package of sanctions of the European Union, which will be presented, in the near future, must include personal sanctions against alleged friends of Vladimir Putin.  Igor Makarov has denied ever being a friend or ally of Vladimir Putin.

According to "Servant of the People", Makarov is allegedly an indirect sponsor of Russian military aggression against Ukraine. They allege that he pays billions in tax to the Russian budget which goes to finance Russian aggression, with hydrocarbons extracted by his companies being used by the Russian government for energy blackmail of Europe.

TAK also reported that Yury Vytrenko, the head of the Ukrainian state monopoly Naftogaz, who had relations with Makarov's structures, in particular Iteroi, will leave his post in the near future.

Law enforcement agencies in Ukraine have many questions for Vytrenko and others.

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