Appeal brought on 14 November 2024 by Igor Albertovich Kesaev against the judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) delivered on 4 September 2024 in Cases T-290/22 and T-763/22, Kesaev v Council

(Case C-793/24 P)

(C/2025/1628)

Language of the case: Dutch

Parties

Appellant: Igor Albertovich Kesaev (represented by: R. Moeyersons, advocaat)

Other party to the proceedings: Council of the European Union

Form of order sought

The appellant claims that the Court should:

Grounds of appeal and main arguments

In support of the appeal, the appellant relies on three grounds:

First ground: objection of illegality

First ground – first part: objection of illegality – infringement of the rights of the defence and the right to the presumption of innocence in conjunction with infringement of the principle of proportionality and the duty to state reasons under Article 296 TFEU by classifying all leading businesspersons in law as ‘natural or legal persons, entities or bodies supporting, materially or financially, or benefitting from the Government of the Russian Federation’.

First ground – second part: objection of illegality – infringement of the principle of proportionality in conjunction with infringement of the duty to state reasons under Article 296 TFEU.

First ground – third part: objection of illegality – infringement of the principles of legal certainty and of the protection of legitimate expectations in conjunction with infringement of the duty to state reasons under Article 296 TFEU.

First ground – fourth part: objection of illegality – infringement of Article 16 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union in relation to the freedom to conduct a business in conjunction with infringement of the principle of proportionality.

First ground – fifth part: objection of illegality – infringement of the prohibition of discrimination (Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and Article 19 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union) in conjunction with the principle of proportionality in view of the criterion based on social origin.

Second ground: infringement of Article 1(g) of Decision 2014/145/CFSP (7) in conjunction with infringement of the duty to state reasons under Article 296 TFEU.

Second ground – first part: infringement of Article 1(g) of Decision 2014/145/CFSP (‘leading businessperson’ criterion) in conjunction with infringement of the duty to state reasons under Article 296 TFEU given that the appellant cannot be classified as a leading businessperson.

Second ground – second part: infringement of Article 1(g) of Decision 2014/145/CFSP (‘economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the Government of the Russian Federation’ criterion) in conjunction with infringement of the duty to state reasons under Article 296 TFEU.

Third ground: infringement of the principle of proportionality by the sanctioning of the appellant in conjunction with infringement of Article 1(g) of Decision 2014/145/CFSP (amended and original) and the duty to state reasons under Article 296 TFEU.

(1)  Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/581 of 8 April 2022 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2022 L 110, p. 3).

(2)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/1530 of 14 September 2022 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2022 L 239, p. 149).

(3)  Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1529 of 14 September 2022 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2022 L 239, p. 1).

(4)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1767 of 13 September 2023 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2023 L 226, p. 104).

(5)  Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1765 of 13 September 2023 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2023 L 226, p. 3).

(6)  Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 of 17 March 2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2014 L 78, p. 6).

(7)  Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP of 17 March 2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2014 L 78, p. 16).