EU sanctions against Yanukovych's family stay in force

Lifting sanctions imposed in 2014 against the family of Yanukovych is a common technical decision which has long ceased to be effective.

Censor.NET Chief Editor Yurii Butusov wrote in Facebook.

"The EU decided to impose sanctions for one year in March 2014. Now, the validity of that decision has expired and it is canceled. But a similar decision taken in 2015 is effective. So, the sanctions are in force, and no one can take a kopeck from the arrested accounts. What's the point? In March 2014, the sanctions were imposed for purely political reasons without any legal basis. The effect of this decision was canceled," he explained

"The Department of Special Investigations of the Prosecutor General's Office has sent a large number of procedural decisions to the judicial authorities of the EU that justify the extension of the sanctions and contain evidence of the "Family's" criminal activity. In March 2016, the European Union on the basis of these documents will finally take a legal decision instead of political. Hopefully, the seizure of property and sanctions will be extended," the journalist wrote.

"EU's March decision on sanctions against the gang of Yanukovych will be a key test of Ukraine's capacity to effectively investigate the crimes of the "Family." Currently, more than 1,500 criminal cases related to the "Family's" economic crimes are subject to corresponding proceedings," Butusov resumed.