Here’s a breakdown of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1789:
**1. Essence of the Act:**
This regulation amends Council Regulation (EU) 2020/1998, which concerns restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses. The new regulation adds two individuals to the list of those subject to sanctions under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. These individuals are being sanctioned for their involvement in serious human rights violations in Crimea.
**2. Structure and Main Provisions:**
* **Article 1:** This is the core of the regulation. It directly amends Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 by adding the names of the sanctioned individuals.
* **Article 2:** Specifies the date of entry into force, which is the date of publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It also confirms that the regulation is binding and directly applicable in all Member States.
* **Annex:** Provides detailed information on the individuals being added to the sanctions list, including their names, identifying information (date and place of birth, nationality, tax IDs, address), and a detailed justification for their listing. The listed individuals are:
* Vadim Viktorovich BULGAKOV: Head of the Directorate of the Russian Federal Penal Enforcement Service for the “Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol”.
* Aleksei Nikolaevich PIKIN: Deputy Head of the same Directorate.
The regulation does not introduce significant structural changes to the original Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 but rather expands its scope by adding specific individuals to the list of sanctioned persons.
**3. Main Provisions for Practical Use:**
* The key provision is the inclusion of Vadim Viktorovich Bulgakov and Aleksei Nikolaevich Pikin in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2020/1998. This means that their assets within the EU will be frozen, and they will be subject to a travel ban preventing them from entering or transiting through EU member states.
* Anyone dealing with these individuals needs to be aware of these restrictions to avoid violating the sanctions regime.
* The detailed reasons for listing provided in the Annex are important for understanding the scope and justification for the sanctions. These reasons focus on their responsibility for human rights violations, specifically the denial of medical care and ill-treatment of detainees and political prisoners in Crimean detention centers.
* **** The regulation specifically addresses human rights violations in Crimea following its illegal annexation by the Russian Federation, highlighting the EU’s focus on protecting human rights in the region. This has direct implications for Ukrainians living in Crimea and those imprisoned there.
