COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2023/430

of 25 February 2023

implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 of 7 December 2020 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses (1), and in particular Article 14(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1)

On 8 December 2020, in the Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union regarding the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, the Union and its Member States reaffirmed their strong commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime underscores the Union’s determination to enhance its role in addressing serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide. Realising the effective enjoyment of human rights by everyone is a strategic goal of the Union. Respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights are fundamental values of the Union and its Common Foreign and Security Policy.

(2)	On 13 December 2021, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2021/2197 (2) and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2195 (3), which designated the Wagner group and three of its members involved in serious human rights violations in different parts of the world.

(3)

The Union remains deeply concerned about serious human rights violations and abuses, such as torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, committed by the Wagner Group in several countries, including Ukraine, Libya, the Central African Republic (CAR), Mali and Sudan.

(4)

Bearing in mind the international dimension and the gravity of the Wagner Group’s activities, as well as its destabilizing impact in those countries, the Union considers that the Wagner Group’s actions undermine the objectives of the common foreign and security policy as set out in Article 21 TEU, in particular the objective to consolidate and support democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the principles of international law in accordance with paragraph 2, point (b), of that Article.

(5)	In this context, eight persons and seven entities should be included in the list of natural persons, legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2020/1998.

(6)	Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Annex I to Council Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 25 February 2023.

For the Council

The President

J. ROSWALL

(1) OJ L 410 I, 7.12.2020, p. 1.

(2) Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/2197 of 13 December 2021 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses (OJ L 445 I, 13.12.2021, p. 17).

(3) Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2195 of 13 December 2021 implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses (OJ L 445 I, 13.12.2021, p. 10).

ANNEX

The following entries are added to the list of natural persons set out in section A (‘Natural persons’) in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2020/1998:

Natural persons

	Names (Transliteration into Latin script)	Names	Identifying information	Reasons for listing	Date of listing
‘19.	Maxim SHUGALEY a.k.a. Maksim SHUGALEI	Максим ШУГАЛЕЙ (Russian spelling)	Position(s): President of the Foundation for the Defence of National Values (FDNV) DOB: 24.2.1966 POB: Leningrad, former USSR (now St Petersburg, Russian Federation) Nationality: Russian Gender: male Passport or ID number: 710508436 (Russian passport)	Maxim Shugaley is head of Foundation for the Defence of National Values (FDNV) and works directly under the supervision of Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is the head of the Wagner Group. The FDNV operates as the public relations arm of the Wagner Group and Shugaley’s role in FDNV involves steering pro-Wagner Group propaganda and disinformation campaigns, including to enhance the reputation of the Wagner Group and support its deployment, as well as covertly interfering on behalf of the Wagner Group in the various countries that he is active in. The Wagner Group is listed for serious human rights abuses, which include torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, in several countries including Libya, Mali and the Central African Republic. Shugaley is associated with the Wagner Group and is responsible for supporting and encouraging the acts of the Wagner Group through pro-Wagner Group propaganda and disinformation.	25.2.2023
20.	Aleksandr Grigorievitch MALOLETKO	Александр Григорьевич МАЛОЛЕТКО (Russian spelling)		Aleksandr Grigorievitch Maloletko is a close collaborator of Yevgeny Prigozhin. His action as a “defender of the Motherland” and as the Head of the “Veteran’s Interests Defenders League” has been publicly hailed by Yevgeny Prigozhin. He has been working as an instructor for the Wagner Group in the Central African Republic (CAR). He is associated with the Wagner Group, listed for serious human rights abuses in several countries, including in CAR, and is responsible for supporting the acts of the Wagner Group.	25.2.2023
21.	Konstantin Alexandrovich PIKALOV	Константин Александрович ПИКАЛОВ (Russian spelling)	Position(s): One of the PMC Wagner Group Commanders in Africa DOB: 23.7.1968 Nationality: Russian Gender: male	Konstantin Alexandrovich Pikalov, code name “Mazaï” (Mazay), is one of the leaders of the Wagner Group and is responsible for the operational activities of the Wagner Group in Africa, notably in the Central African Republic (CAR). He is accused of being the instigator of the murder of three Russian journalists in July 2018. The Wagner Group is listed for serious human rights abuses, which include torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, in several countries, including CAR. In his leadership position within the Wagner Group, Pikalov is responsible for the serious human rights abuses committed by the Wagner Group in CAR.	25.2.2023
22.	Dimitri SYTII a.k.a. Dimitri SYTYI	Дмитрий СЫТИЙ (Russian spelling)	Position(s): Director of the Russian house of Bangui DOB: 23.3.1989 POB: Minsk (Belarus) Nationality: Russian Gender: male Address: NA-SYTAIA/A1-TANKISTAZ KHRUSTITSKOGO 62 APT25/ZP-198217/CI St Petersburg, Russian Federation	Dimitri Sytii has a leading role within the Wagner Group in the Central African Republic (CAR), with close links to Yevgeny Prigozhin. He is in charge of conducting the Wagner Group’s influence policy in CAR. He is the head of the local branch of the Russian House, the cultural arm of the Russian foreign ministry. The Wagner Group is listed for serious human rights abuses, which include torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, in several countries, including CAR. Given his influential position in CAR and his leading role in the Wagner Group, he is responsible for serious human rights abuses committed by the Wagner Group in CAR.	25.2.2023
23.	Mikhail Sergeyevich POTEPKIN	Михаил Сергеевич ПОТЕПКИН (Russian spelling)	Position(s): Director Meroe Gold DOB: 19.9.1981 or 29.9.1981 Nationality: Russian Gender: male Passport number: 651697952 (Russian passport) Address: Sudan Associated companies: Megaline; Concord; IT-Debugger	Mikhail Potepkin is director of Meroe Gold, a cover entity for the Wagner Group’s operations in Sudan, as well as being involved in M-Invest, Meroe’s parent company. He has a leading role within the Wagner Group in Sudan, with close links to Yevgeny Prigozhin. By being affiliated with the Sudanese military, the Wagner Group secured the exploiting and exporting of Sudanese gold to Russia. Potepkin is associated with the Wagner Group, listed for serious human rights abuses, which include torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, in several countries, including Sudan. Through his activities, he also provides support for such abuses committed in Sudan.	25.2.2023
24.	Alexander Alexandrovich IVANOV	Александр Александрович ИВАНОВ (Russian spelling)	Position(s): Representative of the Wagner Group instructors in the Central African Republic DOB: 14.6.1960 Nationality: Russian Gender: male Address: Bangui, Central African Republic	Alexander Ivanov is the spokesperson of the Wagner Group in the Central African Republic (CAR). He is also the head of the Russian “Officers Union for International Security”, which sent the Russian military instructors to CAR. Those instructors are Wagner Group mercenaries. The Wagner Group is listed for serious human rights abuses, which include torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, in several countries including CAR. In his position as official representative of Russian military instructors, he is involved in the serious human rights abuses committed by the Wagner Group in CAR.	25.2.2023
25.	Vitalii Viktorovitch PERFILEV	Виталий Викторович ПЕРФИЛЬЕВ (Russian spelling)	DOB: 11.9.1983 POB: Novossibirsk USSR (now Russian Federation) Nationality: Russian Address: Bangui (Central African Republic) Gender: male Passport number: NR 75 2987491 Date of delivery: 30.3.2016 Expiration date: 30.3.2026	Perfilev is the security advisor to the President of the Central African Republic (CAR). He is a key figure within the Wagner Group in CAR. The Wagner Group is listed for serious human rights abuses, which include torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, in several countries, including CAR. Given his influential position in CAR and his leading role in the Wagner Group, he is responsible for serious human rights abuses committed by the Wagner Group in CAR.	25.2.2023
26.	Andrei Sergeevich MANDEL	Андрей Сергеевич МАНДЕЛЬ (Russian spelling)	DOB: 2.3.1990 POB: Germany Gender: male Passport number: 753615660	Andrei Mandel is head of M-Invest, a cover entity for the Wagner Group’s operations in Sudan, as well as being involved in its subsidiary Meroe Gold. He has a leading role within the Wagner Group in Sudan, with close links to Yevgeny Prigozhin. By being closely affiliated with the Sudanese military, the Wagner Group secured the exploiting and exporting of Sudanese gold to Russia. Mandel is associated with the Wagner Group, listed for serious human rights abuses, which include torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, in several countries, including Sudan. Through his activities, he also provides support for such abuses committed in Sudan.	25.2.2023’

The following entries are added to the list of legal persons, entities and bodies set out in section B (‘Legal persons, entities and bodies’) in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2020/1998:

Legal persons, entities and bodies

	Name (Transliteration into Latin script)	Name	Identifying information	Reasons for listing	Date of listing
‘6.	Lobaye Invest SARLU		Place of registration: Bangui (Central African Republic) Date of registration: 24.10.2017 Registration number: M 354838 D 0001 (“NIF” number, Tax identification number) Principal place of business: Central African Republic Other information: Branch of M-Finans	Lobaye Invest SARLU is a private company registered in the Central African Republic (CAR), subsidiary of the Russian company M-Finans, controlled by Yevgeny Prigozhin. It is managed by Dimitri Sytii, a senior Wagner Group executive and by Yevgeny Khodotov, who is associated with Yevgeny Prigozhin. Lobaye Invest operates gold and diamond mines in CAR. It has been linked to the Wagner Group’s operations in CAR. It also finances several media outlets, such as the radio station Lengo Sengo, a Central African radio station conducting disinformation campaigns and promoting the Wagner Group’s presence in CAR. Lobaye Invest is associated with the Wagner Group, listed for serious human rights abuses, which include torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, in several countries, including the CAR. Through its activities, Lobaye Invest also provides support for such abuses committed in CAR.	25.2.2023
7.	DIAMVILLE		Date of registration: 28.3.2019 Registration number: CA/BG2019B519 Principal place of business: Central African Republic Other information: associated individuals and entites: Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner Group, Dimitri Sytii, Valery Zakharov, Perfilev, Svetlana Troitskaya, Lobaye Invest	Diamville is a screen company used by the Wagner Group present in the Central African Republic (CAR) to illegally trade diamonds. It is closely linked to all major actors of the Wagner Group in CAR, such as Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dimitri Sytii. Diamville is associated with the Wagner Group, listed for serious human rights abuses, which include torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, in several countries, including the CAR. Through its activities, it provides support for such abuses committed in CAR.	25.2.2023
8.	Foundation for the Defence of National Values (FDNV) Fund for the Defence of National Values (FDNV) Foundation/organization for the Protection of National Values (FPNV)/(FZNC) Foundation for National Values Protection		Place of registration: Moscow (64 Zemlyanoy Val str., building 2, office 201, Moscow, Russian Federation) Website: https://en.fznc.ru/	The Foundation for the Defence of National Values (FDNV) is linked with the head of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin. The FDNV operates as the public relations arm of the Wagner Group. It steers pro-Wagner Group propaganda and disinformation campaigns, including to enhance the reputation of the Wagner Group and support its deployment, and engages in covert interference on behalf of the Wagner Group in the various countries that it is active in. The Wagner Group is listed for serious human rights abuses, which include torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, in several countries including Libya, Mali and the Central African Republic. FDNV is associated with the Wagner Group and is responsible for supporting and encouraging the acts of the Wagner Group through pro-Wagner Group propaganda, political interference and disinformation.	25.2.2023
9.	Radio Centrafricaine Lengo Sengo		Place of registration: Bangui, Central African Republic Date of registration: November 2018 Principal place of business: Galabadja Bangui, Commune de Bangui Galabadja, 8eme Arr. [GPS]-> 4.4070, 18.5465	Radio Lengo Sengo is a Central African radio station engaged in online influence operations on behalf of the Wagner Group. Its ultimate objective is to manipulate public opinion. The company conducts disinformation campaigns and promotes the Wagner Group’s presence in the Central African Republic (CAR). Radio Lengo Sengo is financed by Lobaye Invest, a private company linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin and connected to the Wagner Group that serves as a cover for its activities in CAR. The Wagner Group is listed for serious human rights abuses, which include torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings in several countries including CAR. Radio Lengo Sengo is responsible for supporting and encouraging the acts of the Wagner Group in CAR.	25.2.2023
10.	Meroe Gold Co. Ltd.		Place of registration: Al-jref Gharb Plot 134 Blok 1h, Khartoum, Sudan Other information: Mining of other non-ferrous metal ores Associated with: Al Sawlaj for Mining Ltd الصولج Aswar Multi Activities Co., Ltd	Meroe Gold is a cover entity for the Wagner Group’s operations in Sudan. It is closely linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin. By being affiliated with the Sudanese military, the Wagner Group secured the exploiting and exporting of Sudanese gold to Russia. Meroe Gold is associated with the (Wagner Group, listed for serious human rights abuses, which include torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, in several countries, including Sudan. Through its activities, Meroe Gold also provides support for such abuses committed in Sudan.	25.2.2023
11.	M-Invest		Place of registration: d. 76 korp. 4 litera A ofis N620, prospekt Obukhovskoi Oborony St. Petersburg, Russian Federation Registration number: 1177847044066 Principal place of business: Khartoum, Sudan Other information: Tax ID number: 7811636632; Government gazette number: 06513574	M-Invest is a cover entity for the Wagner Group’s operations in Sudan. It is closely linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin. By being affiliated with the Sudanese military, the Wagner Group secured the exploiting and exporting of Sudanese gold to Russia. M-Invest is associated with the Wagner Group, listed for serious human rights abuses, which include torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, in several countries, including Sudan. Through its activities, M-Invest also provides support for such abuses committed in Sudan.	25.2.2023
12.	Sewa Security Services		Place of registration: Bangui (Central African Republic) Principal place of business: Central African Republic Other information: subsidiary of Lobaye Invest	Sewa Security Services is a Central African Republic (CAR)-based private company that provides protection for senior CAR government officials. It serves as a cover for the Wagner Group’s activities in CAR. It is a subsidiary of Lobaye Invest, managed by Dimitri Sytii, a senior Wagner Group executive and by Yevgeny Khodotov, who is associated with Yevgeny Prigozhin. Sewa Security has been involved alongside the Wagner Group in a series of violent attacks that have occurred in CAR since the presidential elections of December 2020. Sewa Security is associated with the Wagner Group, listed for serious human rights abuses, which include torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, in several countries, including CAR. Through its activities, Sewa Security Services also provides support for such abuses committed in CAR.	25.2.2023’