The EU Council is currently reviewing the EU General Court's latest ruling that annulled a sanctions decision against Swiss-Russian Alexander Pumpyanskiy, and is assessing whether any further action is required, according to a source with knowledge of the matter who spoke to Euronews.
Pumpyanskiy has been living in Geneva for many years and used to work in companies that were once owned by his father, the Russian entrepreneur Dmitry Pumpyanskiy.
He was initially added to the sanctions list due to the roles he occupied in his father's businesses, but is now included under the EU's 2023 updated sanctions rules, which cover "immediate family members who gain advantages from designated individuals."
The General Court canceled the Council's penalty decision in 2023, pointing out issues with the process and lack of proper reasoning as Pumpyanskiy had stepped down from his company roles. The Council did not challenge the ruling, but later re-imposed the sanctions on Pumpyanskiy in mid-March this year.
Two weeks following the renewed sanctions decision, the EU General Court once again determined that the Council's decision was illegal.
The legal team of Pumpyanskiy claims that the sanctions ruling from 15 March "is similar to those [on 2 April] that were overturned by the European Union's General Court."
They have urged the judgment to be carried out "without any delay," and claim that "it is crucial for the EU Council to uphold one of the fundamental principles of the Rule of Law, which is the enforcement of court rulings. This means the immediate removal of Alexander Pumpyanskiy from the list."
The legal team of Pumpyanskiy has also filed a damage claim with the General Court, alleging harm resulting from the sanctions.
An EU representative stated that the Council is currently reviewing the court's ruling to determine if any steps need to be taken.
Speaking with Euronews before the March renewal decision and ahead of the court's 2 April ruling, Pumpyanskiy stated, "The reason I was listed in 2022 was due to my connection with my father," noting that "it has been three years since I left those companies' boards and I won the case, so the only remaining basis for the decision is my relationship with my father."
In the interview, Pumpyanskiy shared his account of the sanctions.
The initial impact is on your financial situation. Banks freeze your accounts. This is the first step; following this, other issues arise: you lose access to essential services that everyone relies on, such as mobile phones, home internet, insurance, vehicles, and more, making everyday life increasingly difficult over time.
The Committee did not provide a statement in response to the inquiry.