EU Court Upholds Sanctions Against Yanukovych for Destabilizing Ukraine
On Wednesday, the General Court, part of the Court of Justice of the European Union, dismissed former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych’s appeal, condemning his presidency for significantly contributing to the destabilization of Ukraine, reports 24brussels.
The ruling, outlined in an 18-page judgment, stated that the EU acted correctly in imposing sanctions against Yanukovych based on its legal criteria. The court emphasized his failure to “effectively distance himself from the Russian authorities” during and after his presidency, specifically highlighting his involvement in a plot to remove current President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in March 2022.
Additionally, Yanukovych’s son, Oleksandr Viktorovych Yanukovych, also faced sanctions due to his extensive business operations in the Russian-occupied Donbas region. The court similarly rejected his appeal against these sanctions.
During his presidency, Yanukovych withdrew Ukraine from an association agreement with the EU, misappropriated state funds, and sought closer ties with Moscow, actions that sparked widespread civil unrest. He famously invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to intervene militarily in Ukraine, which culminated in violent clashes with pro-democracy protesters that resulted in over 100 deaths. Yanukovych ultimately fled to Russia in early 2014, where he has remained in exile.
