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Kosova

Kosovo implements US sanctions against the Russian group of mercenaries 'Wagner'

Politiko 2023-03-22 13:18:35

Kosovo implements US sanctions against the Russian group of mercenaries

Kosovo has updated its decision on sanctions against the Russian mercenary group Wagner, adapting them to the decision of the United States, which in January declared Wagner a "significant transnational criminal organization".

At the meeting of the Government of Kosovo, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said that this group of mercenaries is "threatening and undermining" the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The government approved the completion of the decision of May 16, 2022, which provided for sanctions against Wagner based on a decision of the Council of the European Union.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi, said that Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, "has encountered the resistance of the state and people of Ukraine", but has been condemned by democratic states.

"The US Treasury Department on January 26 of this year took restrictive measures against the Wagner group as a transnational criminal organization, including Wagner's global network, Russia's military sector and friends of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. These sanctions were undertaken to degrade the capacities of the Russian Federation to wage war against Ukraine, sanctioning eight individuals, 16 entities and four aircraft," said Bislimi.

"For this reason, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo proposes supplementing and amending the decision of the Government of Kosovo [of May 16, 2022] for the implementation of international sanctions imposed by the USA, which are implemented by our Republic in relation to the international obligations against the Wagner group as well as their associates and other companies that support the Russian military campaign," he added.

Since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, Kosovo has imposed sanctions on Moscow, following the decisions taken by the United States and the European Union. The Wagner group is actively involved in the war in Ukraine, and recently its mercenaries are being considered a significant force in Russia's efforts to take control of the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. In addition to imposing sanctions on Russia, Kosovo has offered support to Ukraine, temporarily sheltering some Ukrainian journalists./REL

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