EU to extend sanctions against Russia, media reports
By Ali Mustafayev
The European Union has reportedly agreed to extend for another six months the blacklist on Russian nationals and entities, in one way or another engaged in turmoil in Ukraine.
Representatives of the 28 EU states agreed on September 6 on the roll over, which will formally be adopted on September 14, and prolong the visa ban and asset freeze list until mid-March 2018, Reuters reported citing sources in Brussels.
The blacklist includes 149 Russian nationals and Ukrainian separatists, as well as 38 entities.
The Union first imposed sanctions on Russia after it annexed the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from Kiev in early 2014. The sanctions covered wide range of spheres aiming to damage the Russian economy.
The European Union has repeatedly condemned Russia's annexation of Crimea and does not recognize it to date. The officials from Europe stated that the duration of the economic restrictions will be equal to the duration of complete implementation of the Minsk agreements.
The bloc’s separate main economic sanctions against Russia, which curb EU cooperation in the energy, defense and financial fields, are effective by late January 2018.
Moscow refuses to return Crimea though the annexation has not been internationally recognized.
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