EU adopts agreed sanctions against Russia

BRUSSELS, July 30 (KUNA) -- The EU Council of Ministers Wednesday adopted further sanctions in view of the situation in Eastern Ukraine and the illegal annexation of Crimea. This decision gives legal value to some of the agreements reached at the Council's Committee of Permanent Representatives in the last two days, as announced by European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and Commission President Josأ© Manuel Barroso, noted the Council in a statement.
Eight persons and three entities have been added to the list of those subject to an asset freeze and a visa ban, for providing support to or benefiting from Russian decisions makers responsible for the destabilisation of Eastern Ukraine and the illegal annexation of Crimea. This brings the number of persons and entities under EU restrictions to 95 persons and 23 entities.
The Council also adopted further trade and investment restrictions for Crimea and Sevastopol, as part of the EU's policy of not recognising the illegal Russian annexation. Today's decisions procedure will enter into force upon their publication in the EU Official Journal, due to take place later on today.
In addition, the Council is due to adopt tomorrow economic sanctions in view of Russia's role in destabilising Eastern Ukraine, it added. (end) nk.ajs