EU may lift sanctions on some Yanukovych’s cronies

The European Union does not exclude the possibility of reviewing the sanctions on former Ukrainian officials of the regime of ex-Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych and lifting the restrictive measures on some of them.

Brussels-based Ukrinform correspondent learnt this from the EU’s diplomatic circles.

"The Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine was to report in February on progress of the investigation into the initiated criminal cases against former high-ranking officials of the Yanukovych regime. Not all the cases give us reason to extend the sanctions against these persons. Therefore, the Council of the European Union is currently developing a decision on extension of the sanction regime," a source said.

However, the specific names were not mentioned.

At the same time, according to Radio Liberty correspondent Rikard Jozwiak, the European Union can exclude from the sanctions list former justice minister of Ukraine Olena Lukash and businessman Serhiy Kliuyev.

Currently, the EU restrictive measures on blocking the assets in the EU are in force against 14 people, including Viktor Yanukovych.

The sanctions are expected be extended for next year in early March.

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