LONDON, England – On Monday, February 17, new sanctions were imposed by the European Union (EU) on a further eight business people and two entities who have helped prop up the destructive Syrian regime.
This brings the total numbers listed under EU Syria sanctions to 278 people and 71 entities. Under the terms of the Transition Period, the UK has also adopted these sanctions, which freeze the individuals’ EU and UK assets and stop them from travelling to the EU or UK.
The UK worked closely with European partners to draw up these sanctions and will look to continue implementing them after December 2020.
Minister for the Middle East & North Africa James Cleverly said:
“Syria’s appalling regime has unleashed unimaginable suffering upon its own people. The UK continues to work closely with European partners to sanction those profiting from the devastating Syrian war. We will also continue to champion the international rules that keep us safe, and which the Bashar Hafez al-Assad regime and its Russian allies – seeks to undermine.”
The sanctions target those who have profited from the ongoing conflict in Syria. The recipients work across a range of industries – some are involved in smuggling and money laundering, while others engage in deals with UN-listed terrorist entities.
The sanctions send a message to backers of the Syrian regime; those who profit from prolonging the conflict will be held to account and the rights of innocent Syrians must be respected and upheld.
Sanctions on Syria will continue until the regime engages seriously with the UN-led political process, which is the only way to end the conflict.
