Wagner boss’s mother must be removed from the European sanctions list | War Ukraine and Russia

Yevgeny Prigozhin heads his own extremely violent mercenary army. It is currently fighting in eastern Ukraine, near the city of Bachmut. Last year, the European Parliament called on all EU countries to place the Wagner group on the list of terrorist groups.

Today’s case revolves around Prigozhin’s mother – Violetta Prigozhina – who ended up on the EU sanctions list after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Those on that list are, among other things, no longer allowed to travel to the European Union and will also see their accounts blocked.

The EU listed Prigozhin’s mother because she allegedly owns Concord Management and Consulting LLC. That company is part of the Concord group, which was founded by her son and was also owned by him until 2019. Prigozhina also allegedly owns other companies related to her son. According to the EU, the woman has therefore supported actions and policies that “undermine the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine”.

LOOK. Prigozhin: “Bachmoth is practically surrounded”

However, Prigozhina wanted her name deleted and asked the Court of First Instance at the European Court of Justice to deal with the case. That follows her now. In a judgment issued today, it notes that the file shows that Prigozhina has not owned Concord Management and Consulting since 2017. According to the European Court, the EU cannot prove that the woman was still the owner of other companies related to her son at the time she was placed on the sanctions list.

The fact that the woman ended up on the sanctions list therefore only seems to be based on the family relationship between the two, according to the court. “That’s not enough to justify her inclusion on the list.”