The abolition of the European Union’s sanctions against Belarusian business tycoon Yury Chyzh by the EU General Court is a legal court ruling and not a political decision of the 28-nation bloc, the EU Delegation to Belarus told BelaPAN.
The General Court of the European Union on Tuesday abolished the bloc's sanctions against Mr. Chyzh and entities controlled by him, including company Triple and soccer club FC Dynama Minsk.
After considering the Belarusian businessman's lawsuit seeking the abolition of the sanctions, the Court found that the Council of the European Union had "provided no evidence showing that Mr. Chyzh financially supported" Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s regime and ruled that the sanctions were not justified.
According to the EU Delegation, the European External Action Service “has taken note” of the judgment.
“The EU institutions are now studying the ruling,” said the EU Delegation’s statement. “They will reflect on the options open to them and will, in due course, decide on any appropriate remedial action. The judgement is a legal ruling of a court; it is not a political decision taken by the EU governments. The record of judgments by EU Courts on such cases is mixed: while certain designations are upheld, others are not.”
It said that the Council of the European Union was “making every effort” to ensure that the addition of all new people and entities to its sanctions lists “meet all legal requirements as defined by the EU Courts, taking into account the evolving case-law.”
“It is a fundamental principle of the EU's policies on restrictive measures that where persons and entities are targeted by these measures, their fundamental rights must be respected as required by the EU Treaties and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, including the right to due process in accordance with the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union,” said the statement.
In March 2012, the EU foreign ministers added Mr. Chyzh to the list of Belarusian individuals subject to an entry ban and asset freeze over his close ties with Alyaksandr Lukashenka and also introduced sanctions against 18 entities owned by the businessman.
Mr. Chyzh and his company Triple have yet to comment on the court ruling.
