Security & Defense

#32026D0490Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/490 of 26 February 2026 amending Decision 2014/119/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against certain persons in view of the situation in Ukraine

🇪🇺European Union··Other·Medium Impact·View source ↗

AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.

🇬🇧 English

This Council Decision extends the EU restrictive measures (asset freeze) originally established in 2014 against persons responsible for misappropriation of Ukrainian state funds until 6 March 2027. It updates the Annex with detailed justifications regarding the respect of the rights of defence and effective judicial protection for three individuals: Vitalii Yuriyovych Zakharchenko, Viktor Ivanovych Ratushniak, and Serhiy Vitalyovych Kurchenko. The updates demonstrate that criminal proceedings in Ukraine are ongoing, that the individuals are evading justice by hiding (primarily in Russia), and that periods of evasion are excluded from the reasonable time calculation for trials in line with ECHR case-law. In absentia trials are being conducted with assigned defence counsel.

AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.

Key Changes

  • Extends the validity of restrictive measures in Decision 2014/119/CFSP from 6 March 2026 to 6 March 2027
  • Updates the Annex with new detailed justifications for Vitalii Yuriyovych Zakharchenko, Viktor Ivanovych Ratushniak and Serhiy Vitalyovych Kurchenko regarding rights of defence
  • Confirms ongoing criminal proceedings in Ukraine (cases No 42016000000002929 and No 12014160020000076)

+ 3 more changes with Pro

Obligations

What this law requires

high

Maintain asset freeze against Vitalii Yuriyovych Zakharchenko until 6 March 2027

Financial institutions, asset holders, EU member states
prohibition
high

Maintain asset freeze against Viktor Ivanovych Ratushniak until 6 March 2027

Financial institutions, asset holders, EU member states
prohibition
high

Maintain asset freeze against Serhiy Vitalyovych Kurchenko until 6 March 2027

Financial institutions, asset holders, EU member states
prohibition
medium

Update internal compliance records with revised justifications regarding rights of defence and effective judicial protection for the three listed individuals as specified in the amended Annex

EU member states, competent national authorities
operational
medium

Recognize periods when listed persons evaded investigation as excluded from reasonable time calculations for trial assessments in accordance with ECHR case-law

EU member states, judicial authorities
operational

Affected Parties

Vitalii Yuriyovych ZakharchenkoViktor Ivanovych Ratushniak+3 more…

Tags

EU sanctions,asset freeze,Ukraine