DISINFO: EU sanctions against Russia are illegal
SUMMARY
Everyone knows our attitude to sanctions. Firstly, they are an illegal tool. Secondly, they are a tool that is contrary to the interests of the European Union. I think that this awareness is now coming to many European countries.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about EU sanctions against Russia.
The EU sanctions against Russia are not illegal. They were adopted as a reaction to the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the deliberate destabilisation of Ukraine. The EU imposed sanctions against the Russian individuals involved in the conflict adding them to the list of people and entities who have been hit with sanctions for undermining the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
On 1 October 2020, the Council added new individuals and entities to the sanctions list of individuals and entities subject to restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Two individuals and four entities have now been added, expanding the list to a total of 177 individuals and 48 entities.
The European sanctions against Russia are linked not only to events in Ukraine. New sanctions were also implemented after the poisoning of prominent Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny.
See similar cases alleging that European sanctions against Russia do not work, that sanctions cost Europe more than they cost Russia and that the European economy loses tens and hundreds of billion dollars due to sanctions.