Brussels expands sanctions to Georgia in 21st measures against Russia

The Council of the European Union has formally adopted its 21st package of sanctions against Russia, extending measures to entities in third countries, including Georgia, in what officials describe as the bloc’s largest expansion of sanctions in four years.

The package targets 218 individuals and entities, comprising 48 people and 170 organisations, according to an announcement issued by the Council on July 23.

Among the measures is the inclusion of an oil refinery in Kulevi, Georgia, which Brussels assesses to be involved in the processing of Russian oil. A ban on transactions with the facility — described as one “which is engaged in the trade and processing of Russian oil” — is scheduled to take effect in six months.

The sanctions also prohibit transactions with 14 cryptocurrency service platforms based in third countries, including Georgia, Panama, the United Arab Emirates, the Marshall Islands, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus. The EU has, for the first time, introduced provisions allowing for a full ban on crypto-asset services provided by companies from outside the bloc.

In addition, the package imposes asset freezes and bans on the provision of funds to 94 banks. It also expands measures affecting Russia’s energy sector, including provisions enabling restrictions on dealings with refineries in both Russia and third countries that process Russian crude and petroleum products.

Russia’s mining and metallurgical sector is also targeted under the new measures.

Separately, alongside entities linked to the defence sector and what the EU describes as Russia’s “shadow fleet,” the sanctions list has been extended to include airports, among them Sheremetyevo International Airport.

The names of the Georgian cryptocurrency platforms affected are expected to be published in the legal acts accompanying the sanctions package.

By Tamilla Hasanova