The EU Council is currently deliberating on a decision made by the EU General Court to annul for the second time a decision to sanction Swiss-Russian Alexander Pumpyanskiy. Pumpyanskiy, a long-term resident of Geneva, was originally included in sanctions lists due to his positions in companies owned by his father, Russian businessman Dmitry Pumpyanskiy. However, he is now listed under the EU’s 2023 amended sanctions criteria, which includes “close family members who benefit from listed individuals”. The General Court annulled the Council’s sanction decision in 2023 citing procedural flaws and insufficient justification since Pumpyanskiy had resigned from his corporate positions. The Council did not appeal the decision, but later renewed its sanctions decision against Pumpyanskiy in mid-March, only for the EU General Court to rule for a second time that the decision was unlawful.
Pumpyanskiy’s lawyers argue that the renewed sanctions decision is no different from the previously annulled ones, and have called for the immediate delisting of Pumpyanskiy as per the court’s judgment. They have also brought a claim for damages against the Council for alleged harm caused by the sanctions. An EU source has mentioned that the Council is currently analyzing the court’s decision to determine if action needs to be taken. Prior to the March renewal decision and before the Court’s judgment, Pumpyanskiy discussed the impact of the sanctions on his daily life, highlighting how his finances were affected, his bank accounts were blocked, and he was cut off from basic services like mobile phones, internet, insurance, and transportation, making his daily life extremely complicated.
Pumpyanskiy emphasized that the initial reason for his listing in 2022 was his association with his father, and he stressed that he had resigned from his positions on the board of his father’s companies three years prior. He expressed frustration that the only basis left for the decision to maintain sanctions against him was his relationship to his father. Despite Pumpyanskiy’s legal victory and his resignation from his corporate roles, the Council decided to renew the sanctions on him in March. The Council has yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter. Pumpyanskiy’s lawyers have strongly urged the Council to respect the Rule of Law and enforce the court’s decision to delist him immediately, to prevent him from facing further repercussions and damages from the unjust sanctions.
The ongoing legal battle between Pumpyanskiy and the EU Council highlights the complexities and challenges associated with sanctions imposed on individuals based on their familial ties or past affiliations. The General Court’s repeated annulment of the Council’s decisions and Pumpyanskiy’s insistence on justice and delisting demonstrate the importance of upholding legal procedures and respecting court judgments in matters of sanctions. Pumpyanskiy’s experience of the practical implications of sanctions on his daily life sheds light on the personal, financial, and logistical challenges faced by individuals caught in the crossfire of international political decisions. It remains to be seen how the EU Council will respond to the General Court’s ruling and the calls for immediate delisting and damages brought forth by Pumpyanskiy’s legal team.
