EU sanctions have been applied to the financial intelligence unit of Russia and its head

On December 18, 2023, the Official Journal of the European Union published Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2871 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, with a list of individuals and legal entities that are subject to sanctions as part of the adopted 12th package.

According to the adopted decision, the financial intelligence unit of the terrorist state (Rosfinmonitoring) and its head were included in the sanctions list.

The reasons for including these persons in the above-mentioned sanctions list are as follows:

«Rosfinmonitoring is a Russian federal executive body created by a decree of the President of the Russian Federation in 2001, responsible for countering money laundering and terrorism financing. All activities undertaken by Rosfinmonitoring fall under the direct supervision of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression in February 2022, Rosfinmonitoring has cooperated with the Russian Ministry of Defence on a “project for banking and treasury support” to fulfil Russia’s so-called new “state defence order”, which was imposed after the beginning of the war with the goal of militarising the Russian economy.

Rosfinmonitoring has consistently placed persons and entities considered critical of the Kremlin on its “terrorism and extremism” register, including journalists and Western-owned social media platforms.

Rosfinmonitoring is therefore supporting materially and benefitting from the Government of the Russian Federation, which is responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine».

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