Baltic states impose travel bans on dozens of Georgian officials over protest crackdown
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have imposed entry bans on dozens of Georgian officials accused of involvement in the suppression of protests following disputed October 2024 elections, according to separate announcements by the three countries on 3 March.
The Estonian sanctions target 20 judges, 15 prosecutors, 13 police officers including regional police chiefs, five members of parliament, and two figures associated with Georgia’s Alt-Info media platform. With this latest round, Estonia has now imposed entry bans on a total of 83 Georgian individuals.
Meanwhile, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys announced on social media that his country had added 74 Georgian officials to its travel ban list ‘over severe human rights violations and repression in Georgia,’ stating, ‘We stand with the people of Georgia in their pursuit of democracy and a European future.’
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze separately posted that she had ‘added 16 Georgian citizens to Latvia’s persona non grata list, banning them from entry into Latvia for unlimited time,’ noting the decision was made under Section 61(2) of the country’s Immigration Law.
The Baltic states were among the first countries to respond to what they describe as Georgia’s ‘democratic backsliding’ following the contested elections. They had previously sanctioned Georgian Dream party patron Bidzina Ivanishvili and senior Interior Ministry officials in an earlier round of targeted sanctions.
EU Common Military List of the European Union
- updating and replacing the Common Military List of the European Union adopted by the Council on 19 February 2024 Link
Easing of sanctions against Syria on behalf of the civilian population
The Federal Council lifted certain sanctions against Syria. In doing so, it is following the decision of the EU, which has suspended various sanctions in view of the change of government in Syria. The decision comes into effect at 6pm on 7 March. Link
Federal Council decides to impose additional freeze on assets of Bashar al-Assad's entourage
During its meeting on 7 March 2025, the Federal Council decided to impose an additional freeze on the assets of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his entourage. The Assad government fell last December after 24 years of rule. With this measure, the Federal Council wants to ensure that, regardless of developments in the area of sanctions, no funds of the former Assad government can flow out of Switzerland. Link
Netherlands - company settles with prosecution and fined €120,000 for Crimean exports
The District Court in Amsterdam has issued a judgment arising from the export of machinery from the Netherlands to Crimea in 2016 and 2017 for use in the construction of the Kerch Bridge. The company (a B.V. unnamed in the judgment) reached a settlement with the prosecution, whereby no defence was advanced, no appeal would be lodged, and the company agreed to pay the fine of €120,000.
Netherlands - Arrest in investigation violation of sanctions law
The FIOD arrested a 57-year-old director of a private limited company on 11 February 2018. The director and the company are suspected of violating the Sanctions Act because of the sale of sanctioned motherboards and graphics cards with Russian destinations. The suspicion relates to the sale of sanctioned motherboards and graphics cards to Russian customers via Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates and Cyprus for an amount of at least 24 million US dollars. The suspect's home and the business premises were searched. Physical and digital administration, business premises and various bank accounts have been seized. The investigation is led by the Functional Public Prosecutor's Office.
Poland introduces new measures targeting sanctions circumvention
Poland has adopted significant amendments to the Act of 13 April 2022 on Special Measures Relative to Counteracting the Support for the Aggression Against Ukraine and Relative to National Security Protection and other related legislation, such as the Act of 16 November 2016 on the National Revenue Administration and the Act of 1 March 2018 on Counteracting Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism. The main goal of this legislation is to prevent the circumvention of EU Russia sanctions and to update the Polish Sanctions Act in line with current EU regulations. The amendments will enter into force 14 days after their publication in Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland, that is on 26 February 2025. Link
SECO - Sanctions: Ordinance on measures against Zimbabwe
On 3 March 2025, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research has amended annex 2 of the ordinance on measures against Zimbabwe. The last remaining entity has been removed. The measures come into force on 5 March 2025. Link
SECO - Ordinance on measures against Myanmar
On 10 March 2025, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER has amended annex 1 of the ordinance on measures against Myanmar. One entity has been added to the annex. The measures come into force on 11 March 2025. Link
SECO: Ordinance on Measures in Connection with the Situation in Ukraine
On 18 February 2025 the Federal Department of Economic Affairs EAER has amended annex 8 to the ordinance on measures in connection with the situation in Ukraine. The entries concerning 8 individuals and 8 organizations have been modified. The measures come into force on 19 February 2025. Link
Spain - five arrested for suspected chemical exports to Russia
Customs Surveillance officials of the Tax Agency, in a joint operation with the National Police, arrested five people in the provinces of Barcelona and Valencia as alleged perpetrators of a continuing crime of smuggling prohibited goods. This is the continuation of the 'Probirka' operation, carried out in October 2024, in which 13,000 kilos of a chemical substance included in the European sanctions against Russia and destined for this country were seized in the customs area of the port of Barcelona. As a result of the analysis of the information seized in this investigation, it has been possible to expand knowledge about this smuggling network that uses intermediaries and front companies in Kyrgyzstan and Armenia to divert chemical products to the real end user in Moscow.
In this second phase, new illegal exports to Russia of chemical products listed in both Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 on Dual-Use, and in Regulation (EU) No 833/2014, regarding restrictive measures motivated by actions by Russia that destabilise the situation in Ukraine, have been documented. Among the products diverted to Russia, a chemical substance classified as a precursor to chemical weapons or nerve agents, as well as others classified as precursors to explosives, has been found to be shipped. During the search of the company, 70,000 euros in cash and relevant documents were seized, which are now being analysed by investigators.
UK maintains West Bank settler sanctions amid calls for business ban
The UK Government considers Israeli settlements illegal under international law and goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from tariff and trade preferences under the UK's current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Israel.
On 15 October, the Foreign Secretary announced new sanctions targeting three illegal settler outposts and four organisations that have supported and sponsored violence against communities in the West Bank. The Government does not comment on future sanctions measures, as to do so would reduce their impact.
UK compound settlement offer for breaches of export control
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued compound settlement offers to a UK company. The settlement relates to unlicensed exports of dual-use goods and failure to declare a licence to customs, as required in the export licence conditions. These offences are contrary to Retained Regulation 428/2009 and Art 38(1)(a) of the Export Control Order 2008 respectively. Link
Ukraine: Switzerland expands its sanctions lists
The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), in its capacity as the competent body for sanctions, has expanded its list of sanctions against Russia. Switzerland is adopting the additional measures decided by the EU in response to Russia’s continuing military aggression against Ukraine. The measures will take effect on 4 March. Link
Zimbabwe: Council renews restrictive measures framework and delists one entity
The EU Council renewed its framework for restrictive measures in view of the situation in Zimbabwe for a further year, until 20 February 2026. The Council also delisted the last remaining entity, the Zimbabwe Defence Industries. The embargo on arms and equipment which might be used for internal repression remains in place. The EU continues to closely follow developments in Zimbabwe, with a particular attention to the human rights situation, and recalls its readiness to adapt the whole range of its policies accordingly.