The General Court of the European Union dismissed the legal challenge by Mr. Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich against the EU’s restrictive measures imposed on him following Russia’s attack on Ukraine in February 2022. Abramovich, a prominent businessman with Russian, Israeli, and Portuguese nationalities, and a major stakeholder in Evraz, a key player in Russia’s steel and mining sector, sought to remove his name from the sanctions list and claimed compensation for reputational damages. The Court ruled that the Council’s decision to list and maintain Abramovich’s name on the sanctions list was justified, given his significant role in Evraz and its contributions to the Russian government’s revenues. It further held that these measures did not unduly infringe upon Abramovich’s fundamental rights, including privacy, business freedom, and free movement within the EU. Consequently, Abramovich’s claims, including his demand for compensation, were rejected, endorsing the EU’s sanctions framework’s ability to address essential needs and allow specific fund releases.
Follow