EU blacklists three Russians for allegedly carrying out cyberattacks
The European Union (EU) has blacklisted three Russians for allegedly carrying out cyberattacks. This follows from a document posted on January 27 on the EU website.
"Three individuals are to be added to the list. These individuals are responsible for or involved in cyberattacks with a significant effect that pose an external threat to EU member states," the document says.
The blacklist now includes Russian citizens Nikolai Korchagin, Vitaly Shevchenko and Yuri Denisov, who allegedly work in the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (AF).
In addition, on the same day, Britain added nine individuals and organizations from Belarus to the sanctions list.
"The sanctions are directed against the heads of institutions responsible for serious human rights violations and companies of the Belarusian defense sector," said in a statement on the website of the British government.
The sanctions also affected the head of the main department for combating organized crime and corruption of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the republic, Andrei Ananenko. In addition, London imposed restrictions on the Belarusian plant "Legmash" and the bureau "Unmanned Helicopters.
Earlier in the day, head of EU diplomacy Kaja Kallas officially confirmed the EU extension of anti-Russian sanctions for another six months. In turn, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Economic Relations Peter Szijjarto said that Budapest received from the European Commission the required guarantees of energy security, without which it refused to extend sanctions against Russia.
Formally, the term of the EU sanctions against Russia should have expired on January 31. At the same time, Hungary declared its readiness to block the extension of the restrictions if Budapest's conditions are not met: the resumption of Russian gas transit through Ukraine, as well as an end to the Ukrainian army's attacks on the Turkish Stream and a guarantee of continued oil supplies.
On January 22, Prime Minister Viktor Orban called on the EU to reconsider its sanctions policy against Russia. He also pointed out that the sanctions had failed to end the armed conflict, paralyze the economy, or find Europe a substitute for Russian energy from other available sources.
Later, on January 25, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Orban would face consequences if anti-Russian sanctions were blocked. In this case, he said, the Hungarian prime minister would allegedly side with the Russian president.
Western countries have increased sanctions pressure on Russia after the start of the special operation to protect civilians in Donbass, which was announced on February 24, 2022.
