CJEU annuls sanctions against former Ukrainian prime minister Azarov

The Court of Justice of the European Union has annulled the decision of the Council of the European Union on the imposition of sanctions on former prime minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov.

"The Court … annuls Council Decision 2015/364 of 5 March 2015 amending Decision 2014/119/CFSP concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons, entities and bodies in view of the situation in Ukraine … in so far as they concern Mr Mykola Yanovych Azarov," reads the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

The Court also orders the Council of the European Union to pay the costs incurred both in the proceedings at first instance and in the present appeal.

As reported, on March 5, 2014, the European Union imposed the sanctions in form of freezing of funds against 18 former Ukrainian top officials. In 2018, the Council of the European Union extended the decision to freeze the funds of 13 persons identified as guilty of embezzlement of Ukrainian public funds or abuse of official position, which led to the loss of Ukrainian public funds, until March 6, 2019.

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