EU adds three Syrian ministers to sanctions list over repression, human rights violations

The European Union (EU) has imposed additional restrictive measures on Syria, targeting three high-ranking officials in the Syrian government.

The move comes as part of the EU’s ongoing response to the Syrian regime's continued repression and obstruction of a political solution to the decade-long conflict, Caliber.Az reports, citing a statement came online on the European Council website.

The newly sanctioned individuals are Louai Emad El-Din al-Munajjid, Minister of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection; Firas Hassan Qaddour, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources; and Ahmed Mohammad Bustaji, Minister of State. As members of the Syrian government, they are held accountable for supporting policies that perpetuate violence against civilians.

Those added to the list will face an asset freeze and a travel ban within the EU. Furthermore, providing funds or economic resources to these individuals, either directly or indirectly, is strictly prohibited.

With these additions, the EU’s Syria sanctions regime now targets a total of 318 individuals and 86 entities. The measures reflect the EU’s condemnation of the Syrian government’s human rights violations and its obstruction of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015), which outlines the framework for achieving sustainable peace in Syria.

The Council reiterated its commitment to a political resolution as the sole path to peace in Syria and emphasized that it will continue to monitor the situation closely. Sanctions may be renewed or adjusted based on developments on the ground.

The legal acts detailing the sanctions have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union, ensuring transparency and compliance.

Notably, sanctions on Syria were introduced in 2011 in response to the violent repression of the civilian population by the Assad regime. The EU sanctions in place regarding Syria target the Assad regime and its supporters, as well as sectors of the economy from which the regime profits.

The sanctions are designed so that they do not impede the provision of humanitarian assistance to any part of the country. They do not prohibit the export of food, medicines or medical equipment by the EU to Syria, and they do not target Syria’s healthcare system.

The EU and its member states have mobilised over €35 billion since 2011, remaining the largest provider of international aid and delivering humanitarian, stabilisation and resilience assistance inside Syria and in neighbouring countries. 

By Khagan Isayev