The European Union has imposed new sanctions against five individuals and four organizations involved in the operation of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” The relevant decision was adopted by the EU Council on December 15.
Source: OBOZREVATEL
According to reports, the restrictions target businessmen who are directly or indirectly linked to Russian state oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil and are involved in schemes for the illegal transportation of oil.
The sanctions list includes:
Murtaza Ali Lakhani (Pakistan);
Anar Madatli (Pakistan, Canada) — shareholder and director of 2Rivers Group;
Talat Safarov (Azerbaijan) — shareholder and CEO of 2Rivers Group;
Valerii Kildiiarov — manager of Alghaf Marine DMCC and Chief Financial Officer of Litasco Middle East DMCC;
Etibar Eyub / Akin Kochak (Azerbaijan) — founder and head of Coral Energy, which later became 2Rivers Group.
The EU emphasizes that all these individuals operate in a sector that generates significant revenue for the Russian budget and also control vessels transporting Russian oil and petroleum products, concealing their true origin and using dangerous and illegal shipping practices.
The sanctions provide for asset freezes, a ban on financial transactions by EU citizens and companies, as well as a ban on entry into EU countries.
In addition, four shipping companies registered in Russia, the UAE, and Vietnam, which own tankers of the “shadow fleet,” were added to the blacklist:
SeverTransBunker (Russia);
Hung Phat Maritime Trading (Vietnam);
Citrine Marine SPC (UAE);
Nova Shipmanagement (UAE).
The new restrictions are part of the EU’s strategy to cut off the Kremlin’s financial flows, particularly amid the continuation of the war against Ukraine and the strengthening of sanctions pressure under the presidency of Donald Trump in the United States.